ISLAMABAD (The NEWS): Senior Federal Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal has said that the people would thwart any intrigue to create wedge in the close and unprecedented relations between Pakistan and China.

The Cherished ties of the two important Asian neighbors are guarantee of sustainable peace in the region as both the countries are striving hard for the world free of any fear and terror.

The minister, who also holds the defense portfolio, was talking to the media at a reception hosted here on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

Major General Li Mengyan the Military, Navy and Air Attaché of China hosted the reception and the senior officers of the three services of Pakistan in large number attended it.

The Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui and General Li received the guests and exchanged greetings with them.

Rao Sikandar Iqbal said that the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries are being quoted world over an example.

The relations have flourished with every passing day. Any attempt at any level to make a dent in the bilateral cooperation is destined to fail since these ties are between people to people.

"Our leaders particularly President General Pervez Musharraf had visited China frequently and so are visits undertaken by the Chinese leaders to Pakistan", the minister added.

He said that the government is aware of the conspiracies being made to disturb relations between Pakistan and China.

Targeting the Chinese who are here to help us is part of the conspiracy against Pak-China friendship, he said. They are engaged in taking part in developmental activities like mega projects in different parts of the country. The government is determined to provide protection to the Chinese on the soil of Pakistan who are working here and rendering invaluable services.

The minister referred to last month's Hub incident where Pakistani personnel protected the lives of Chinese engineers by sacrificing their own lives.

The minister was confident that the ties between Pakistan and China would keep on growing in the years to come.

The Chinese Ambassador was extremely jubilant about the number of the guests who turned up to join the Chinese diplomats for commemoration of a day that is really source of happiness and honour for them since the Chinese PLA has earned the name in dedication to its motherland.

It has emerged as the world top class force in short span of time through demonstration of professional skill and sincerity of the purpose. It has turned into be an invincible force by concentrating on stiff training and motivation. The number of the guests hailing from the three services was yet another source of encouragement for the hosts that they had turned up in the reception disregarding the threat perception about the civic security.

The charming wife of the Chinese ambassador who had done doctorate from the New Delhi University in India attended any reception in the capital for the first time as she has come last week from Bangkok where she was looking after diplomatic assignment on behalf of her country.

The little daughter of the ambassador was also present playing with her mate children in the reception and engaged in "decorating" the hall in her own juvenile way till the time, the function was over.

General Ehsan-ul-Haq Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), Lieutenant General Salah-ud-din Satti Chief of the Staff of the GHQ, Air Chief Marshal Tanver Mahmood Ahmad Chief of the Air Staff, Major General Ghulm Mustafa and senior diplomats were conspicuous among the guests.

The guests kept on discussing the recent incidents of terrorism in different parts of the country, scanty reaction of the Foreign Office about the threats coming from across the Atlantic about targeting so-called Al-Qaida hide-outs in the tribal areas of Pakistan adjacent to border with Afghanistan, the issues coming up before the honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan and acceleration in political activities across the country. Yet another question was also being discussed by the guests about the election of the President in the backdrop of the sojourn to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia undertaken by President General Pervez Musharraf last week where he had interaction with the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The guests expressed their concern about the future of the Muslim League once Benazir Bhutto returns home.