President Zardari Awards Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) To GeDeputy Chief of General Staff of PLA

Pakistan has awarded Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) to the Deputy Chief of General Staff of Chinese People's Liberation Army's General Hou Shusen due to his efforts for the promotion  of the friendship between Pakistan and China. The President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Nishan-i-Imtiaz on top Chinese General Hou Shusen in a ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad.

Pakistani federal government has said that Chinese General Hou Shusen  was awarded Nishan-i-Imtiaz due to his “consistent and valuable contributions in promoting relations and understanding between the two countries and armies.”

Deputy Chief of General Staff of Chinese People's Liberation Army and his delegation also met with the President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed matters of mutual interests including the current efforts to increase defense cooperation between the two countries.

The President termed China a factor of stability in the region and said the convergence of interests and unanimity of views on bilateral, regional and international issues, has brought the two countries further closer.

The ceremony was attended among others by Lt Gen Liu Yuejun Chief of Staff Lanzhou Military Regional Command, Maj Gen Dan Zhiping Deputy Chief of Staff PLA, Maj Gen Wang Kebin Dy Chief of Operation Deptt, General Staff HQ, PLA, Maj Gen Wu Bing Dy Chief of Military Intelligence Deptt, GS HQ, PLA, Senior Colonel Hang Keguang, Commander of Officer Training Base and other members of delegation.

Liu Jian, Chinese ambassador in Pakistan and senior officials of Chinese embassy were also present.

Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Secretary General to the President M. Salman Faruqui, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Secretary Foreign Affairs Salman Bashir, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar, Maj ® Haroon Rashid and other senior officials were also present during the ceremony.