ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: Acting President Mohammedmian Soomro has said that relations between Pakistan and China are deep-rooted and under-pinned by mutual trust and confidence at people-to-people level.

The acting President was talking to Mr Zhang Chunxiang, the outgoing Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China who paid farewell call on him. During the meeting they discussed the prospects of further promoting Pakistan-China ties in various spheres besides discussing regional and international situation.

Mr Soomro lauded China’s generous economic assistance to Pakistan for a number of projects of vital importance and strategic significance, and said that the vast spectrum of cooperation between the two countries covers political, economic, defence and cultural fields. He said that Pakistan wanted exchange of visits of businessmen and the delegations representing Chambers of Commerce of the two countries should visit each other‘s country with a view to boosting trade between the two countries.

The acting President lauded the contribution made by the Chinese Ambassador in strengthening and consolidating the Pakistan-China relations and expressed the hope that his successor would follow him.

The outgoing ambassador of China thanked the acting President and the government of Pakistan for extending cooperation to him in the discharge of his official duties. Later, the acting President hosted a luncheon for the outgoing envoy which was attended by acting Chairman Senate, Mr Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali, diplomat and senior government functionaries.