ISLAMABAD, Jan 5: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Ijazul Haq has said friendship between Pakistan and China is time-tested and will further grow in future.

He was speaking at a gathering of Chinese intending pilgrims here at Haji camp on Wednesday.

He said he was carrying forward the tradition set by his late father, Gen Mohammad Ziaul Haq to facilitate the Chinese pilgrims transiting through Pakistan. Pakistan and China, he said, enjoyed the most fraternal relations and the people and the government of Pakistan held the Chinese people in high esteem.

He assured the intending pilgrims that all possible facilities and courtesies would be accorded to them during their stay in Pakistan and the ministry of religious affairs had made special arrangements in this regard.