NEW YORK, Sept 29: Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri held a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and briefed him about the latest situation in South Asia and Islamabad’s commitment to resolving all disputes with India peacefully.

Mr Li described relations with Pakistan as model of all-weather friendship, and said that China attached great importance to ties with Pakistan.

Foreign minister Kasuri also highlighted the growing Indo-Israeli military and nuclear cooperation and its implications for the security of the region.

Chinese minister briefed his Pakistani counterpart on the latest contacts with India following Prime Minister Vajpayee’s visit. He informed Mr Kasuri that a thaw in relations with India could not possibly affect China’s exemplary relations with Pakistan.

The foreign minister also met Turkey’s foreign minister Abdullah Gul. The two ministers discussed issues of bilateral interest and regional importance, including the situation in Iraq.

The two stressed the importance of promoting consensus with reference to the resolution being discussed in the Security Council on the Iraq issue.

In a meeting with Egypt’s foreign minister Ahmed Maher, Mr Kasuri briefed the former on the security situation in the South Asia while stressing the point that solution of the Kashmir issue was important for lasting peace in the region.

He underscored the implications of the emerging military and strategic nexus between India and Israel. The two also discussed the latest developments with regard to the situation in Iraq and the Middle East peace process.

Mr Kasuri’s meeting with his Yemeni counterpart focused on bilateral relations, the situation in Iraq and the growing cooperation between Israel and India.

He attended a meeting of foreign ministers of D-8, a grouping which comprises Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Iran. It was agreed at the meeting that Iran will host the 4th Summit of D-8 early next year.—APP