BEIJING, May 20: Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday pledged that his country would continue to work with Pakistan to strengthen their strategic partnership for a better future of their peoples.
In a message to President Gen Pervez Musharraf on the occasion of 55th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, he said China was willing to work together with Pakistan, enrich the connotation of mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly build up a better future for the strategic partnership between them in the new century.
Pakistan was one of the first groups of countries that recognised China. On May 21, 1951, the two countries officially established diplomatic relations. Since then, they witnessed smooth development of friendly and neighbourly relations, as well as mutually beneficial cooperation as traditional allies.
Diplomatic sources told APP that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also sent similar messages of goodwill to their Pakistani counterparts on the occasion, pledging to maintain the momentum of their cooperation in various fields.
President Hu in his message said over the years since establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries carried forward their “all-weather” cooperative partnership on the basis of “five-principles” of peaceful co-existence, which had brought tangible benefits to the people of the two countries and made positive contribution to peace, stability and development in the region and the world as well.
“The China-Pakistan relations may be rated as a model of state-to-state relationship among developing and neighbouring countries,” he added.
Premier Wen Jiabao, extending warm congratulations to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, noted that relations between the two countries had withstood the tests of internationally changing situation and become a model of living in amity for countries with different social systems.
A spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, Liu Jianchao, said they were looking forward to strengthen their all-dimensional strategic partnership with Pakistan in the years to come.
During the current year, the two sides are likely to witness high-level visits, bilateral exchanges and greater interactions in areas like trade, energy, education, culture, tourism and defence.
The year 2006 has special significance as some important Chinese-assisted projects, including the Gwadar deep seaport, up-gradation of the Karakarum Highway and Jinnah hydro power projects are likely to be put into operation.
The two sides have also agreed to conclude the ongoing negotiation on Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year.
The China-Pakistan friendship was rooted in the popular ethos and common interests of the people of the two countries, based on trust and mutual understanding, said Pakistan ambassador to China Salman Bashir.
In an interview, he said the leadership, governments and peoples of the two countries were determined to impart ever greater vigour and vitality to their bilateral relations and work together, facing new challenges in the 21st century.—APP