ISLAMABAD -- Chinese President Hu Jintao will begin a milestone visit to Pakistan on Thursday, in a move that is bound to further promote bilateral cooperation in various fields and give new impetus to the development of Sino-Pakistani friendship.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, close neighbors linked by mountains and rivers with their friendly exchanges dating back to ancient times.

Over the past 55 years, generations of leaders from the two sides have devoted a great deal of time and energy to fostering and developing the bilateral friendly ties.

The Sino-Pakistani good-neighborly and friendly relations have continued to grow stronger and achieved fruitful results from mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields. The two countries have established an "all-weather" friendship and their relationship has always been hailed as a good example of peaceful coexistence between countries with different social systems.

China and Pakistan are good neighbors, good friends and good partners as well. To forge a long-standing, stable strategic cooperative partnership is not only in the common interests of the two countries, but also conducive to peace and prosperity in the region.
The Chinese and Pakistani peoples have always shown support and sympathy for each other. Pakistan has always given support to China at the international stage and on issues related to Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.

Besides, the South Asian country has also given strong support and help and always cooperated with China in the fight against terrorism, splittism and extremism.

After the South Asia earthquake in October, 2005, the Chinese government and people immediately provided much needed goods and funds to Pakistanis in quake-hit areas and fulfilled their promises in the shortest possible time, which are the embodiment of friendship between the two governments and peoples.

Over the past 55 years, the two countries have built many large projects together, including the Pakistan Heavy Electrical Complex completed in the 1960s, the Karakorum Highway constructed in the 1970s, the Muzaffargarh power plant that went into operation in the 1980s, the Chashma nuclear power plant completed in the 1990s, and the Gwadar Port project completed not long ago.
These have not only witnessed both countries' deep-rooted traditional friendship, but also become vivid symbols of their deepened and strengthened cooperation.

In the past 10 years, the scope of Sino-Pakistani economic and trade cooperation continued to expand and now covers various fields such as hydroelectricity, electricity, transportation, telecommunications, energy, resource exploration, home appliances, textiles, construction and agriculture.

Sino-Pakistani economic and trade cooperation includes continuously growing imports and exports and expanding economic and technological cooperation. The Chinese government has always been extending assistance to Pakistan at its best capacity. And what's more, both countries have invested in each other's state-run and private sectors.

Recently, in accordance with the principle of mutual benefit, win-win and common development, China and Pakistan have taken a series of strategic measures. They signed an Early Harvest accord on their free trade agreement in 2005, which came into force on January 1, 2006.

In 2006, the two countries signed a framework agreement on expanding and deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
During President Hu's four-day state visit to Pakistan, China is expected to sign unprecedented agreements with the South Asian country, reliable sources have told Xinhua.
A five-year development program for Sino-Pakistani economic and trade cooperation will be the first-ever agreement for China to sign with another country, according to the sources.

The sources said Hu and his Pakistani counterpart, Pervez Musharraf, will attend the inauguration ceremony of the Haier-Ruba economic zone in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, the first of the eight economic zones to be established outside China and mainly managed by Chinese companies.

The above-mentioned achievements are major breakthroughs by both China and Pakistan in seeking new modes and approaches in their economic and trade cooperation, the sources noted.

As announced by the Chinese government, China and Pakistan will sign other agreements in areas such as trade, culture and education during Hu's visit, the first to Pakistan by a Chinese head of state in a decade.

During the upcoming visit, Hu will hold talks with Musharraf and Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. He is also expected to meet business circles, students and other friendly groups in Pakistan, and give an important address on Sino-Pakistani relations.