November 11, 2001	Sunday	Shaba’an 24, 1422

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LAHORE, Nov 10: China’s former vice-foreign minister Liu Shuging has fully supported Pakistan government’s decision to be a part of the international coalition against terrorism.

Mr Liu expressed these views during a meeting with Punjab Governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) at the Governor’s House on Saturday. He is heading an eight-member delegation of eminent people and former ambassadors of China.

He extended his full support to the view point of the Pakistan government that the military operation in Afghanistan should be short and confined to only specific military targets so that Afghan people could remain safe.

Mr Liu also supported the government’s view that the Afghan issue should be resolved through political means as early as possible and through the establishment of a broad-based government, representing all ethnic and linguistic groups there.

He said the longstanding Sino-Pakistan friendship was being further cemented.

Khalid Maqbool said the time-tested friendly relations between the two countries were based on the universally honoured principle of respecting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and were further gaining strength.

The governor also hosted a dinner for the delegation whose other members are: Chinese Institute of International Studies President Yang Chengxu and Vice-president Cai Bingkui, former ambassadors to Pakistan Zhou Gang and Zhang Chengli, Foreign Affairs Deputy Director Zhou Jihe, Ambassador to Pakistan Lu Shulin, Mr Jiang Duan and Ms Yuan Youwei.