Author:
Publication: Dawn, Karachi
Date: December 23, 2001
President Gen Pervez Musharraf on
Saturday urged Chinese Muslims to be "very patriotic" and work for the
betterment of their country.
"Islam is a religion of peace and
we don't believe in any violence and therefore you being a part of China
have to be very patriotic and for the good of China, all Muslims in China
(should) work for the good of China", he said, talking to the Imam of the
Grand Mosque here.
A very warm welcome was accorded
to President Musharraf and Begum Sehba Musharraf on their arrival here
from Beijing.
The president was received at the
airport by the vice-governor of the Shaanxi province, Jia Zhibang, Xian
Mayor Feng Xuchu and other senior officials of the foreign ministry.
Before his departure from Beijing,
Gen Musharraf held a meeting with heads of Chinese petroleum companies.
The visit to Xian is the second
leg of his five-day official visit to China aimed at cementing ties with
Pakistan's closest ally.
Gen Musharraf on Friday took pains
to back a Chinese campaign against Muslim separatists in its far western
region of Xinjiang during a meeting with the Chinese parliamentary chief,
Li Peng.
"Pakistan will make full efforts
to support China to fight against East Turkestan terrorism forces", state
television quoted Gen Musharraf as saying, using the name of the country
that Xinjiang separatists wanted to create.
-AFP/APP
