BEIJING, Feb 21: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao pledged on Tuesday to step up economic and trade relations with Pakistan, but expressed concern over the safety of Chinese citizens working and living in the neighbouring country.

“Both sides should explore new areas of commerce and continue to raise the level of trade cooperation,” the Chinese leader was quoted by state television as telling President Pervez Musharraf.

“China will encourage its enterprises to step up investment in Pakistan,” he said.

But he raised concerns over the safety of Chinese nationals following the murder of three Chinese engineers last week in Balochistan.

“I hope Pakistan will adopt measures to guarantee the personnel safety and property of Chinese in Pakistan,” The Chinese prime minister said.

Gen Musharraf, on the third day of his five-day visit, welcomed additional Chinese investment in Pakistan, and reiterated his pledge to improve the safety of Chinese in his country, the report said.

The president also met Zhang Deguang, head of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to discuss Pakistan’s prospects of upgrading its observer status in the organization to full membership, press reports said.

However, China remained non-committal.

“We will relay Pakistan’s hope to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to all members of the group,” the SCO chief told China News Service after the talks.

“Pakistan has played a role in fighting terrorism and in strengthening economic and cultural cooperation in the region. All SCO members place importance on Pakistan’s cooperation as an SCO observer,” he said.

According to press reports, an energy cooperation framework agreement, one of the 13 accords signed between the two countries on Monday, is based on a possible natural gas pipeline between Iran and China which could transit Pakistan.

JOINT STATEMENT: According to a joint statement issued by the two countries on Tuesday, both sides emphasized that they were committed to enhancing their strategic partnership.