Officials in Islamabad pledged on Sunday to foster the
friendship between China and Pakistan and in so doing consolidate
the bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his Pakistani counterpart
Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri made these remarks at a joint press
conference on Sunday afternoon.
At the invitation of Kasuri, Li embarked upon a two-day official
visit to Pakistan on April 1-2.
Li promised China's full backing to consolidating the two
nations' traditional friendship and cooperation for the benefit of
both peoples and overall regional development, Li said.
"We want to work with Pakistan to take the strategic and
cooperative partnership to a new height," he said.
Responding to a question, Li stated that China's fundamental
policy towards South Asia was to help maintain stability,
development and cooperation.
He called upon all South Asian countries to enjoy political
stability, economic prosperity and harmony for common
development.
Briefing the media, Kasuri revealed the Pakistani-Chinese
relations had remained excellent for over half a century and had
consistently deepened over this period. He labeled the relationship
as a long-lasting, time-tested and all-weather friendship.
Kasuri thanked China for its economic support on several major
projects of "great national significance," such as the newly
inaugurated Gwadar Port.
Turning to the joint five-year program for trade and economic
cooperation, Kasuri praised the free trade agreement signed between
Pakistan and China as greatly bolstering economic ties between the
two neighbors.
Kasuri also proclaimed Pakistan's support of China's new
observer status in the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation), which he said had elevated the profile of the
organization. In closing, Kasuri spoke of his country's confidence
that China would play a pivotal role in SAARC.
(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2007)
