President Hu Jintao and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf agreed Thursday to further promote bilateral relations.

The two presidents, who are at the UN headquarters in New York to attend the UN's 60th anniversary summit, discussed ways of furthering bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on the current international situation.

Hu noted the sound development momentum of bilateral relations, saying the political basis for bilateral ties has been further strengthened with the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries in April.

He also mentioned the increasingly close bilateral cooperation in investment, resources development and project engineering, and the negotiations on establishing a free trade area between them.

Voicing his satisfaction with the development of Sino-Pakistani economic and trade relations, Hu said China will work with Pakistan to raise their economic and trade cooperation to a new level.

The two countries have all along maintained effective communication and cooperation in international and regional affairs, Hu said, adding that China wishes to see Pakistan play a bigger role in international and regional affairs.

Musharraf said the friendship and cooperation between the two countries have stood the test of time and enjoy a solid foundation. Bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, trade and international affairs are fruitful, he said.

He pledged Pakistan's continued efforts to strengthen bilateral political cooperation and expand economic and trade cooperation with China.

It is of significance for the two countries to further their coordination and cooperation in international affairs, he noted.

Musharraf also briefed Hu on the latest developments of relations between Pakistan and India.

Hu welcomed the improvement of Pakistan-India relations through dialogues and expressed the hope that peace and stability will be maintained in South Asia.

China will, under the guidance of the principles of building friendship and partnerships with neighbors, promote friendship and cooperation with all countries in the region, Hu said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2005)