Xi holds talks with Pakistani president

BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping held talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Beijing on Wednesday.

Xi said China and Pakistan enjoy ironclad friendship and are all-weather strategic cooperative partners.

In recent years, the two countries have provided firm political support for each other, maintained close high-level exchanges, and advanced the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and cooperation in various fields, setting a good example for relations between countries, he said.

China stands ready to work with Pakistan to advance their respective modernization drives, accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and make greater contributions to regional peace, stability and prosperity, Xi said.

Xi stressed that China always views its relations with Pakistan from a strategic perspective, and maintains a high degree of stability and continuity in its friendly policy toward Pakistan. He said that China will, as always, support Pakistan firmly in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in combating terrorism, and in following a development path suited to its national conditions.

He called on the two countries to deepen the docking of development strategies and the exchange of governance experience, strengthen exchange at all levels and across all authorities, and consolidate the political foundations of China-Pakistan relations constantly.

China welcomes Pakistan to become one of the first countries to benefit from China's further deepening of reform comprehensively and expanding high-standard opening up, Xi said, adding that China is ready to deepen practical cooperation with Pakistan in various fields, work together to upgrade China-Pakistan Economic Corridor cooperation, and help Pakistan consolidate its development foundations and unleash its development potential.

He said that China hopes Pakistan will intensify the security measures for Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation.

Noting that next year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan, Xi called on the two sides to deepen exchange and cooperation on culture, education and the media, with the aim of passing on the China-Pakistan friendship from generation to generation.

"China appreciates Pakistan's active support for the three global initiatives and participation in relevant cooperation, and stands ready to work with Pakistan to adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, resist unilateralism and hegemonic practices, strengthen multilateral coordination, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries," Xi said.

Pakistan will stand steadfastly with China no matter how the situation changes, Zardari said. He expressed Pakistan's appreciation for the selfless assistance China has provided for Pakistan's economic and social development. He said that Pakistan is willing to learn from China's successful experience and promote the high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and cooperation in various fields, so as to realize industrialization and modernization.

He said that under the brilliant leadership of President Xi, China has played an ever-growing leadership role in international affairs and has become an increasingly important force for world peace, stability and prosperity.

Pakistan is willing to work closely with China to uphold multilateralism, safeguard free trade, and promote the common interests of the two countries and the vast number of developing countries, he added.

After their talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, trade, science and technology, and radio and television.