Senior Pakistani general lauds China's unconditional aid
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A high-ranking Pakistani general said here Thursday that history showed China always provided his country with unconditional help at difficult times.
"We know China's help and assistance is not one-time help and assistance, it is not conditional assistance," Tariq Majid, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, told Xinhua at a mobile hospital set up by a Chinese aid team in this southern district.
"We value this... China is very sincere to us," he added, noting that China is the first foreign country to send a relief team to Thatta, the worst hit area in the month-long nationwide flooding.
The Chinese assistance unit has treated some 700 patients since it entered the devastated district, about 100 km northeast of Karachi, on Aug. 27.
"They are doing wonderful services here... That only reflects strength of friendship between the two countries. We always stand by each other at difficult times," the general said.
China has offered its south Asian neighbor a total of 120 million yuan (17.7 million U.S. dollars) worth of humanitarian supplies in response to the worst flooding in Pakistan's history, which has killed at least 1,600 people and affected more than 20 million others.
"This is the initial stage, and we have rescue and relief going on... But this period will be over soon, and then rehabilitation and reconstruction will start. That is why major help is needed," Majid said.
He sid the government was making proper recovery plans to ensure the flood victims could restart normal life at an early date.
