SHANGHAI, June 16: President Pervez Musharraf and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao held an hour-long meeting here Friday and reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen relations between the two countries in all its dimensions, particularly the economic sector. Both the leaders agreed to continue coordinating their stated position on regional and international issues at the UN and other levels to serve the common interests of their people.

Expressing satisfaction over the pace of progress of their bilateral cooperation in the economic sector, they hoped that the negotiation between the two countries on the free trade agreement would be completed soon.

President Jintao said his country agreed working together to develop Pakistan as an energy corridor through the Gwadar seaport. He offered to enhance his country’s support for undertaking reconstruction work in the areas that were hit by the devastating earthquake in Pakistan last year.

He said: “China is prepared to help for construction of hospitals and schools in the affected region.”

According to Chinese sources, the two presidents agreed that the two countries would strengthen strategic partnership by enhancing mutual trust, expanding exchanges and intensifying reciprocal cooperation.

President Jintao said that high-level visits and frequent contacts between their leaders on bilateral and multilateral occasions would help enhance political trust and promote cooperation in diverse fields.

He proposed China and Pakistan speed up their joint study on a five-year plan for economic and trade cooperation and reach a Sino-Pakistan free trade deal at an early date.

He also proposed closer cooperation in the security sector — both traditional and untraditional — and implementation of existing documents signed between the two sides.

Echoing Hu’s proposals on closer ties, Musharraf said more exchanges and cooperation in political, trade and economic sectors between his country and China have brought tangible benefits to the two countries and their peoples.

He said Pakistan is willing to make concerted efforts with China to add new vitality to bilateral relations and continually push forward their strategic partnership.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations. “We are good neighbours, good friends and good partners,” Hu said, adding that their friendship is all-weather and cooperation all-round.

Musharraf said the Pakistani-Chinese friendship had withstood the test of time and his country was confident in the bilateral relations with China.

President Musharraf thanked his Chinese counterpart for supporting Pakistan in getting observer status on the six-nation grouping that comprises China, Russia, four Central Asian states, besides Iran, India and Mongolia as three other observer countries.

But at the same he sought China’s support for Pakistan to become a full member of the regional grouping.—APP