New Delhi: The Pakistan-China friendship was on full display on Monday evening when Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa was the chief guest at the 90th-anniversary celebrations of the People's Liberation Army, where he declared “there was no parallel to the enviable Pak-China relationship” in the world.
These celebrations, at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, come at a time when two Asian giants - India and China - are involved in a standoff over the Doklam issue.
Speaking on the occasion, General Bajwa said that "the military relationship between Pakistan and China is the foundation of Sino-Pak ties," adding that Pakistan takes pride in relations with its "brother China". The Pakistan Chief of Army Staff also said that there is no parallel to "the enviable Pak-China relationship" in the world.
The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, according to Major General Asif Ghafoor's Twitter account, said that Pakistan-China "military-to-military cooperation was a pillar of the bilateral relationship" between the two countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded the People's Liberation Army and asserted that will not let anyone "split its territory", thereby appreciating Army's efforts to fight "all invasions" amid territorial disputes with its neighbours.
However, Xi made it clear that China doesn't fancy "aggression or expansion."
"No one should expect us to swallow the bitter fruit that is harmful to our sovereignty, security or development interests," Xi said as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is engaged in a standoff with Indian troops at Doklam in the Sikkim section since mid-June.
His remarks came in the middle of a massive official media campaign and the assertion by China's foreign and defence ministries accusing Indian troops of trespassing into Chinese territory at Doklam.
India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval during the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa NSAs meet on July 27-28 also held separate talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.
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