PEKING: President Ayub Khan and Chairman Liu Shao-chi today [March 3] held a general review of [the] international situation with particular emphasis on issues affecting this region. According to Foreign Minister Bhutto, who said he was satisfied with the way the talks had progressed, they discussed areas of tension and conflict in some detail. They also exchanged views on the situation in South-East Asia, particularly in Viet-Nam, and regarding areas of conflict in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent. The situation resulting from arms build-up in India was reviewed. Talks are likely to be continued till the President leaves China on March 9. Chairman Liu Shao-chi, Premier Chou En-lai and Marshal Chen Yi are due to accompany him on his two-day visit to Shanghai.

Replying to the questions on the subjects that were discussed today, [Mr Bhutto] said Pakistan-China and Pakistan-India relations, as well as Pakistan’s relations with America and China’s “relations or lack of relations” with the United States also came up for discussion. Asked if Kashmir was discussed, he said areas of tension in the sub-continent did come up for discussion. He told a questioner that China’s stand on Kashmir was already very clear. It had supported the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir as pledged by India and Pakistan. There was no scope for further improvement in this stand he added. He said augmentation of arms aid to India and its consequences were also discussed at today’s meeting.

Published in Dawn March 4th , 2015

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