ISLAMABAD, March 26: Pakistan and China have discussed a strategy to secure ceasefire in Iraq during the ongoing UN Security Council session, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Wednesday.

“Pakistan and China have identity of views on the Iraq issue and want a quick ceasefire in the war,” the prime minister said while speaking at a press conference at the PAF base Chaklala on his return from a three-day visit to China.

He said Pakistan was in contact with the OIC members to stop war in Iraq.

Mr Jamali said during his visit he discussed with the Chinese leaders regional and international issues, as well as measures to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

The prime minister said he did not believe that due to fast changing world situation, Pakistan’s foreign policy needed to be reshaped. Foreign policies, he pointed out, did not change overnight and his government knew how to protect national interests.

Responding to a question, Mr Jamali said permanent members of the Security Council had a greater responsibility for the early end of war. “Both Pakistan and China also stressed that the Iraq issue must be brought to the diplomatic track,” he added.

He termed his visit very successful and said both the countries had decided to work closely to ensure peace and international security.

The prime minister expressed the hope that the Wednesday’s missile tests by Pakistan and India would not fuel tension in the region. “These are routine missile tests,” he added.

Asked whether both the countries would continue conducting missile tests, the prime minister said Pakistan could not compromise on its defence. “We do have to meet our defence requirements.”

Mr Jamali told a reporter that China appreciated Pakistan’s stand on the Kashmir issue and called for resumption of dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi.

“I briefed the Chinese leaders about the security situation in South Asia as a result of India’s belligerence and refusal to accept Pakistan’s offer for resumption of dialogue,” he said.

Mr Jamali said during talks with Chinese leaders he highlighted that peace and security in South Asia would remain elusive unless the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir was resolved. “The Chinese leaders appreciated Pakistan’s restraints.”

Talking about his visit, he said Pakistan and China agreed to further enhance political, economic, commercial, technical and cultural cooperation.

Both the countries, the prime minister said, also signed four MoUs, one of which related to cooperation in the railways sector under which Chine would help develop railway infrastructure and rehabilitate Karachi Circular Railway.

He said another MoU concerning construction of a second nuclear power plant at Chashma to enhance cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy was also signed. In addition, he said, Pakistan was designated a favoured destination for Chinese tourists.

“China also decided to offer economic and technical assistance grant worth 50 million yuan to Pakistan,” he said.

The prime minister said he was assured by the Chinese leadership that they would encourage measures to boost trade between the two countries. “I invited Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan, particularly in the manufacturing sector,” Mr Jamali said.

He said the new Chinese defence minister discussed with him further consolidation of Pakistan-China defence relations.

Mr Jamali said President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao accepted his invitations to visit Pakistan at their earliest.