Zee Media Bureau
Beijing: In wake of multiple explosions in Urumqi in China`s restive Xinjiang province, Pakistani Prime Minister Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday promised China of co-operation in combating the East Turkistan terrorism forces, who have been recently staging frequent attacks.
Mr Hussain, who met Chinese President Xi Jinping at Shanghai, said that the separatist Islamic militant group `East Turkistan` forces were common enemy for both the countries and hence Islamabad and Beijing will make joint efforts to combat the terrorists, reported Xinhua.

His comments came after 31 people were killed and 90 others injured in multiple explosions in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, bordering Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Afghanistan.

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China blames East Turkistan Islamic Movement for the violence in Xinjiang where native Uygur Muslims are restive over the settlements of Han Chinese community.

It was rare that the East Turkistan forces whose leaders operated from Pakistan tribal areas gets a public mention in the meeting between Chinese and Pakistani leaders.

Xi and Hussain agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts, the Xinhua said. Hussain is in Shanghai where he attended the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) yesterday.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of a framework agreement on the orange line of the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System to built with Chinese assistance.

At a bilateral meeting, Xi said China backs Pakistan in practicing a counter-terrorism strategy based on its national conditions and is willing to enhance bilateral security cooperation to safeguard the peace and stability of the two countries and the region.

Pakistan will take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and projects in the country, Hussain assured Xi.

Hussain said that Pakistani-Chinese friendship is the foundation of?Pakistani foreign relations. Pakistan appreciates China`s long-term support, he said, stressing that the government and the people expect Xi to visit the country at an early date.

Xi said he will pay a state visit to Pakistan at a proper time to push bilateral strategic coordination and pragmatic cooperation to a new stage.

On economic cooperation, Xi called on the two sides to jointly promote the construction of the China-Pakistan economic corridor, being built through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, an important part of the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st century maritime Silk Road.

He urged the two sides to ensure the operation of joint projects in Pakistan`s Gwadar port and Lahore Metro. Hailing the Pakistan-China economic corridor, Hussain said Pakistan is willing to create good conditions for projects and hopes the two sides will enhance cooperation in electricity. With PTI Inputs