President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) on General Xu Qiliang, Commander China Peoples Liberation Army (Air Force) at a special ceremony held at Aiwan e Sadr on Saturday. The award has been conferred on for his meritorious services and personal contributions to strengthen the co-operation and goodwill between the two air forces.
After the ceremony, Qiliang held a meeting with the President and discussed bilateral relations with him. Zardari said that the brotherly relations between the two countries date back to three generations and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto laid the foundation of this time-tested friendship.
He said, "It is not only the leadership of Pakistan but also the common citizen of Pakistan who has the same feelings and respect for China and the Chinese people." The people of China and the people of Pakistan are the guarantees of our mutual friendship and brotherly relations he added. He reiterated Pakistans support to China in international arena and the challenges faced by China due to evolving global situation.
President Zardari stressed the need to enhance the mutual co-operation would be beneficial for both the countries in all fields. He said China is like a second home, and the people of Pakistan have great feelings of friendship towards China.
General Xu Qiliang conveyed to President Asif Ali Zardari regards from Hu Jintao, President of the Peoples Republic of China. He said the people of China and its leadership view Pak-China relations with pride. Federal Minister for Defence Production Abdul Qayyum Jatoi, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Secretary General to the President Salman Faruqui, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamer Suleman, Chief of Air Staff and Farahanaz Ispahani, Luo Zhaohui, Ambassador of China were also present during the meeting.
General Xu Qiliang said that Pakistan has always been there to support China at critical times while referring to Pakistans support for China during the Taiwan dispute, the Tibetan issue and the recent global threat from extremism.
To use Air Force terminology, he said Pakistan and China always fly wing by wing while referring to the mutual friendship and co-operation. The citation read out on the occasion said, General Xu Qiliang, commander China Peoples Liberation Army (Air Force) is reputed as an accomplished military Commander and a distinguished aviator. He has played a significant role in promoting and strengthening the bonds of goodwill and co-operation between the Air Forces of China and Pakistan.
The Air Forces of the two countries have also established close ties and currently share several programmes of mutual co-operation and interaction at the professional level. They also enjoy a substantial measure of similarity of weapon systems and equipment. Besides acquiring Chinese aircraft in increasing numbers, PAF has been involved in joint ventures with the PLA (AF).
Indigenous designing and joint production of the new JF-17 fighter aircraft has added a new dimension and colour to the everlasting friendship between the two countries and their Air Forces.
While the two services have enjoyed friendly ties over the past years, the relationship has been reinvigorated and given a meaningful and purposeful orientation in the recent years. General Xu Qiliang has personally endeavoured to further consolidate the close interaction between the PLA (Air Force) and the Pakistan Air Force.