LAHORE, Feb 9: Chinese Foreign Office spokesman Sun Yuxi appreciated on Saturday the efforts being made by Pakistan to de-escalate tensions on its eastern borders.

“We appreciate President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s efforts for de-escalation of tensions on Pakistan’s borders with India,” he told the executive committee members of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) here. The Chinese Foreign Office spokesman is leading an eight-member media delegation to Pakistan.

Representatives of Chinese official news agency Xinhua, Beijing News daily, World Affairs magazine, People’s Daily and China Daily besides officials of the Chinese foreign office constitute the delegation.

The Chinese FO spokesman also commended the contributions of Pakistan to world peace in the post-Sept 11 scenario.

He said that Sino-Pakistan relations were characterized by the fact that ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’.—APP