ISLAMABAD: Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that he was looking forward to visiting Pakistan as early as possible.

According to a press release issued here, he was talking to the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz who met him on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

President Xi conveyed his greetings to President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He expressed good wishes and solidarity for the success of their government in its efforts for socio-economic development of Pakistan.

Mr Aziz said the government and people of Pakistan were very keen to welcome the Chinese president and his visit would strengthen the excellent bilateral relations.

President Xi, terming Pakistan-China friendship as strategic and all weather, said the relations would remain insulated from changing time and situations and would strengthen with the passage of time.

He also conveyed deep condolences on the loss of life and property in the ongoing floods and said that Chinese nation was with the people and government of Pakistan in this hour of grief.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2014