Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has visited Pakistan on his way to the SAARC summit. During his two-day visit in Islamabad, he spoke with Pakistani leaders about bilateral ties and regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Before leaving Pakistan, Li Zhaoxing met President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf called the cooperation with China in political, economic, diplomatic and security fields successful. He said Pakistan is looking forward to further deepening cooperation in all aspects.
Li Zhaoxing told his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri that China believes the upcoming visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukit Aziz will help step up the bilateral cooperation. Li said China is willing to further consolidate good neighborly friendship and strengthen the strategic and cooperative partnership.
Kasuri said, "We are looking forward to a mutually beneficial economic cooperation with China and during my visit, we discussed a lot of projects. And I have great hopes during prime minister Shaukat Aziz's visit to Beijing in the next few days."
Kasuri also expressed appreciation for China's support on several economic projects of "great national significance", including the newly inaugurated Gwadar Port.
Li said, "We are very glad to see that South Asian countries have enjoyed accelerated economic development and positive progress in regional cooperation. And SAARC has also carried out cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, poverty reduction and fighting terrorism. And the SAARC free trade agreement is now in effect. We welcome all these developments." "China attaches importance to South Asia. The basic and fundamental objective of our policy toward South Asia is stability and development, good neighbourliness and cooperation."
Kasuri delivered Pakistan's support for China's entry into SAARC and said Pakistan is confident that China will play an important role in the association.
On Monday, Li Zhaoxing met Prime Minister Aziz. Li stressed their two countries are good neighbors, good friends, good partners, and good brothers. He said China is looking forward to an all-dimensional cooperation with Pakistan.
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