QINGDAO, June 22: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri expressed thanks to the Chinese leadership for their consistent support to Pakistan for resolution of its disputes with India.

Referring to a meeting, he held here on Monday with the Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, Mr Kasuri said: "This was a good opportunity provided by our Chinese friends."

He said: "We are confident that Pakistan-India dialogue held on the soil of China, with the support of the Chinese leadership would be a source of peace and security in whole of the Asian region."

He said Chinese leaders are our close friends and they have been advising us both at official and private levels to settle the disputes peaceful through dialogue. "I am sure, they extended similar advice to India as well," he added.

Meanwhile, Chinese media extended prominent coverage to the meeting of the two foreign ministers. The People's Daily in its front page report, said Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh had his first meeting on Monday in Qingdao with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri. -APP