Chinese President Jiang Zemin held talks with visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf here Thursday, commending the all-weather friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two countries.
On the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations, Jiang said Musharraf's visit to China will promote their all-round bilateral partnership.
The cooperative friendship between the two countries has been tested by the changes in the international climate over the last 50 years, Jiang said.
"Despite different social systems, ideologies and political beliefs, both countries continue their all-weather cooperation in all fields by practicing the five principles of peaceful coexistence," Jiang said.
"Both sides should further their coordination and cooperation, to safeguard the legal rights and interests of all developing countries including China and Pakistan, and to maintain peace and stability in South Asia and the world at large."
On bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Jiang said China and Pakistan are compatible in the economic area. China is willing to assist Pakistan within its means and to support competent Chinese corporations in investment or contracting projects in Pakistan.
China is glad to see that Pakistan withstood the dramatic changes after the September 11 Incident, and stabilized the situation, rejuvenated its economy and improved its external environment, he said.
Jiang said that China considers Pakistan an important nation in the region. "Political stability is not only in the interest of the Pakistani people, but also affects regional peace and stability."
China, a reliable friend of Pakistan, will consistently support the country's efforts to ensure stability, development and regional prosperity, he said.
Musharraf said wide ranging cooperation with China remains the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. Pakistan and China shared identical views on a number of major international and regional issues, he said, adding that he believed bilateral friendship will be inherited by the generation to come.
He congratulated China on its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and believed that China's WTO entry will enhance developing countries' presence in world trade.
Musharraf invited Jiang to revisit Pakistan and Jiang expressed his thanks.
After the talks relevant government departments and enterprises from both countries signed seven cooperative documents, including the intergovernmental economic and technological agreement.
(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2001)
