China, Pakistan pledge to strengthen ties
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met Thursday in Beijing and pledged further efforts to enhance bilateral ties.
Wen said the China-Pakistan friendship had weathered the changes on the world stage and the strategic cooperative partnership was maintaining a good momentum.
China understood and supported the Pakistani government in framing and carrying out security and development strategies in line with its state interests and circumstances, said Wen.
China was willing to boost cooperation in finance, hydro-electricity, education, culture, railway, road transport and the fishing industry.
China considered ties with Pakistan one of the priorities in foreign relations and it hoped to continue high-level exchanges and increase coordination on major international and regional issues of common concern, such as terrorism.
Gilani said China was Pakistan's most reliable friend and strategic cooperative partner.
Pakistan was willing to work with China to boost cooperation in economy and trade, agriculture, rail and road transportation, he said.
Gilani reiterated Pakistan's firm stand in supporting China on issues relating to Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang.
At the invitation of Wen, Gilani arrived in China Monday for a four-day official visit. This is Gilani's first visit to China as Pakistani prime minister.
