BEIJING, Feb 19: Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Sunday that Pakistan and China advocated same stand against terrorism and enjoyed full cooperation in all the fields of common interests.

In an interview with APP, he pointed out that they had signed the Extradition Treaty and Cooperation Agreement on combating separatism, extremism and terrorism. The competent government departments of the two countries had set up a mechanism for security and counter-terrorism consultations, he added.

The minister said China would step up cooperation with Pakistan so as to maintain security in both countries and in the region. “We appreciate Pakistani government’s position on counter-terrorism and extremism,” he added.

About President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to China, which began on Sunday, he expressed the hope that it would lift bilateral ties to a new height, bringing the two countries closer in all fields of common interests.

Chinese leadership, he said attached great importance to Gen Musharraf’s visit and expressed the hope that it would reinforce their strategic partnership to meet the common aspirations of their peoples.

Li Zhaoxing during the interview covered entire spectrum of bilateral relationship and termed the Sino-Pak relationship a model of harmonious co-existence of countries with different social systems and cultural backgrounds.

About the economic cooperation, the Chinese foreign minister said their trade had been growing at over 20 per cent annually during the last five years with the trade volume exceeding $4 billion in 2005.

He held out assurance that Pakistan would remain one of China’s key markets for contracted projects. The Chinese government would encourage its leading companies to actively take part in the economic development of Pakistan.

He said the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations were going well. The establishment of FTA would have profound impact on China-Pakistan trade and economic cooperation.

The ministers stressed that the two sides should promote the FTA after its establishment and encourage their trade agencies as well as exporters to take part or hold

trade exhibitions and fairs in each other’s country.

Li said their economic cooperation and trade was highly complementary and had great potential for growth. He expressed his confidence that their trade and economic ties would steadily move forward to serve their mutual benefits.

Pledging to maintain coordination with Pakistan on regional and international affairs, the minister said China supported Pakistan’s playing of important role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as an observer and its participation in Asean Regional Forum, Asia Cooperation Dialogue and other regional cooperation process.