ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: Chinese Ambassador Lu Shulin said on Monday Pak-China friendship will continue to grow even in future like in glorious past.

The outgoing envoy said:”The Pak-China friendship is beyond time and space, and no wave of international politics can block the smooth development of this friendship in the new millennium.”

He was addressing the farewell reception hosted in his honour by Pakistan Cultural Forum (PCF) Chairman Zafar Bakhtawari at his residence. The ceremony was attended by Lt-Gen Syed Parvez Shahid, the director-general of Joint Chief of Staff Committee, Hamid Gul and envoys from Brunei Darul Salaam, Malaysia, Thailand, Tunis, Nigeria, Nepal, Kazakhstan, South Africa and important personalities from the federal capital, said a press release.

He pledged to continue his personal efforts to further strengthen the strategic ties between Pakistan and China. Mr Shulin said that as he had started his foreign service career from Pakistan, therefore he would remain an un-official ambassador of Pakistan in China.

He hoped that the governments of both the countries would continue to strive for even better relations between themselves.

Speaking on the occasion, PCF chief said Mr Shulin was our honoured guest who had made the friendship between Pakistan and China even sweeter owing to his Urdu poetry.

He said the frequent exchange of literary personalities, poets and cultural artistes from both the countries have given a unique fragrance to Pak-China Friendship.

Lu Shulin was presented Allama Iqbal Award by the chairman of the forum in recognition of personal and sincere efforts to patronize multi-dimensional Pak-China friendship at the turn of the century.—APP