ISLAMABAD: President Fazal Elahi Chaudhry and Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto have felicitated China on the 27th anniversary of the founding of the People`s Republic of China being celebrated on Oct 1.

Prime Minister Bhutto in his message to Premier Hua Kuo-feng expressed his conviction that the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries will continue to develop from strength to strength in the years to come. News agencies [Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from the UN,] Afghanistan told the UN General Assembly yesterday [Sept 29] that a thaw had occurred in its relations with Pakistan and that a dialogue had begun between the leaders of the two countries.

`We hope that as a result of these contacts and future talks between the two leaders, our political difference will find a just and honourable solution,` Afghanistan Deputy Foreign Minister Waheed Abdullah said in the course of the general debate. Mr Abdullah said he was `encouraged` to hear the assessment of the Pakistan delegation leader, Mr Aziz Ahmed, regarding Pal(istanAfghanistan relations and said the only way `all of us can resolve our differences is through peaceful negotiations`