The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature,
wants to continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with its
Pakistani counterpart, said NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu
Bangguo in Beijing on Monday.
Wu made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Pakistani
President Pervez Musharraf who is here on a five-day state visit at
the invitation of President Hu Jintao.
Wu said despite the great changes in both the international
situation and the domestic circumstances of the two countries, the
relations between China and Pakistan have been developing since the
establishment of diplomatic ties 55 years ago.
The two sides have had frequent high-level exchanges and
political mutual trust has been increasingly deepened, Wu said.
Both sides have continuously strengthened cooperation for mutual
benefit, cooperated closely in international and regional affairs,
and communicated and coordinated well in fields like fighting
terrorism and safeguarding regional security, said Wu.
He said the NPC is the firm supporter of the friendship between
China and Pakistan and is ready to exchange experience with the
Pakistani parliament in terms of managing the state and political
affairs.
Musharraf said he is very happy to visit China on the 55th
anniversary of the establishment of Pakistan-China diplomatic ties.
The Pakistan-China relationship has endured the test of time and
has developed into an all-round cooperative relationship with firm
foundations, he said.
Musharraf said Pakistan hopes to further consolidate political
relations with China, and to expand cooperation in fields of
economy, trade and education with China. He also hoped that the two
countries could continue to support and coordinate with each other
in anti-terrorism efforts and major international and regional
affairs, to safeguard the security and stability of the region.
Musharraf expressed his condolences over the death of three
Chinese engineers who were recently killed in Pakistan. He strongly
condemned the terrorists' attempts to damage Pakistan-China
relations.
Wu said the Chinese people are shocked over the murders. He
noted that the Pakistani government has strongly condemned the
terrorist attack, and expressed the hope that the Pakistani side
would take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese
citizens in Pakistan.
(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2006)
