Chinese leaders and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf agreed in Beijing Tuesday to keep close bilateral relations and further develop cooperation.

The consensus was highlighted by China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and Jia Qinglin, chairman of the country's top political consultative body, in their meetings with Musharraf.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), spoke highly of China-Pakistan relations. The two countries have offered strong support to each other on major issues and maintained full consultations and effective cooperation in international affairs, he said.

Wu said China's new leadership will continue to promote China-Pakistan relations and to strengthen friendship and cooperation with all neighboring countries including Pakistan.

Wu said parliamentary exchange plays an important and irreplaceable role in improving mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and is an important part of bilateral relations.

China's NPC has always attached importance to friendly cooperation with the Pakistan parliament and is willing to maintain close contact and cooperation with the Pakistan side so as to further develop the two countries' relations, Wu said.

Musharraf said the two countries have maintained close contact, consultations and have supported each other on many major international issues. Pakistan is ready to further develop its relations with China and promote relations between the two countries' parliaments, he said.

In a separate meeting, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said Pakistan is China's most trustworthy and reliable friend.

Jia said the people of the two countries enjoy a traditional friendship and China's CPPCC and Pakistan's Senate have always had friendly relations. The two sides should take more active measures to encourage people from all sectors, especially young people, to communicate so as to pass on the friendship from generation to generation.

Musharraf said Pakistan is willing to keep close relations of cooperation with China and to further expand bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2003)