Beijing: China and Pakistan have vowed to
promote their strategic cooperative partnership based on
mutual trust, respect and time-tested friendship as the two
sides discussed bilateral ties and global and regional issues
of mutual concern.
As part of the fourth round of their strategic dialogue,
Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo and Pakistan`s Foreign
Secretary Salman Bashir held talks here yesterday.
Both sides had an in-depth discussion on promoting
China-Pakistan strategic partnership and international and
regional issues of mutual concern, China`s state run Xinhua
news agency reported.
The talks assumed special significance as Pakistan is
working on multi-track engagements in the region with
major powers, Pakistan`s official APP news agency said.
Pakistan and China vowed to further promote their
strategic cooperative partnership which is based on
complete mutual trust, respect and time-tested friendship
between the people of the two countries, it quoted Bashir as
saying.
The talks came amid deepening US-Pak divide over the
issues relating to terrorism and strategy and tactics to be
adopted to contain Taliban in Afghanistan.
Bashir said the progress on implementation of various
decisions taken at the leadership-level was reviewed at the
talks and both sides discussed a wide range of projects in
fields like trade, defence and science and technology.
The two sides also exchanged views on the ongoing
developments in North Africa and Middle East.
Matters relating to counter-terrorism and the imperative
need for promoting stability and peace in Afghanistan figured
prominently in the meeting.
"Pakistan and China enjoy close strategic cooperative
partnership. This year both the countries are holding
commemorative events to mark the 60th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations and leadership of both
sides have declared 2011 as the Year of Friendship," said
Bashir.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, he said, was
expected to visit China next month.
Bashir is visiting China from April 27-30 at the
invitation of Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun.
PTI
