Chinese, Pakistani Presidents Hold Talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 21, 2001

Chinese, Pakistani Presidents Hold Talks

Chinese President Jiang Zemin held talks with visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf Thursday, commending the all-weather friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two countries. On the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations, Jiang said Musharraf's visit to China will promote their all-round bilateral partnership. Musharraf said wide ranging cooperation with China remains the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy.

Friendship Tested Over 50 Years: Jiang

The cooperative friendship between the two countries has been tested by the changes in the international climate over the last 50 years, Jiang said.

Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence

"Despite different social systems, ideologies and political beliefs, both countries continue their all-weather cooperation in all fields by practicing the five principles of peaceful coexistence," Jiang said.

"Both sides should further their coordination and cooperation, to safeguard the legal rights and interests of all developing countries including China and Pakistan, and to maintain peace and stability in South Asia and the world at large."

Economic, Trade Cooperation

On bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Jiang said China and Pakistan are compatible in the economic area. China is willing to assist Pakistan within its means and to support competent Chinese corporations in investment or contracting projects in Pakistan.

China is glad to see that Pakistan withstood the dramatic changes after the September 11 Incident, and stabilized the situation, rejuvenated its economy and improved its external environment, he said.

Regional Stability

Jiang said that China considers Pakistan an important nation in the region. "Political stability is not only in the interest of the Pakistani people, but also affects regional peace and stability."

China, a reliable friend of Pakistan, will consistently support the country's efforts to ensure stability, development and regional prosperity, he said.

Pakistan's Foreign Policy: Musharraf

Musharraf said wide ranging cooperation with China remains the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. Pakistan and China shared identical views on a number of major international and regional issues, he said, adding that he believed bilateral friendship will be inherited by the generation to come.

He congratulated China on its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and believed that China's WTO entry will enhance developing countries' presence in world trade.

Musharraf invited Jiang to revisit Pakistan and Jiang expressed his thanks.

After the talks relevant government departments and enterprises from both countries signed seven cooperative documents, including the intergovernmental economic and technological agreement.

China and Pakistan

Political Relations

Pakistan is one of the first to recognize the People's Republic of China. On 21st May 1951, China and Pakistan established diplomatic ties. From then on, China and Pakistan have been enjoying a good neighborly relationship and mutual beneficial cooperation on the bases of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.

In 1980's, the leadership of China and Pakistan exchanged visits frequently. The international situation went through great changes in 1990's but the time-tested Sino-Pakistani friendship and cooperation withstood all international vicissitudes and continued to march forward.

China's Trade with Pakistan

(million US dollars)

Year	Value	Exports	Imports	Balance
1993	848.63	752.22	96.41	655.81
1994	768.00	606.00	162.00	444.00
1995	1010.80	787.68	223.12	564.56
1996	963.75	621.48	342.27	279.21
1997	1067.0	688.00	379.00	309.00
1998	913.00	524.00	389.00	135.00
1999	971.00	581.00	390.00	191.00
2000	1162.00	670.00	492.00	178.00

Sino-Pakistani Culture Exchanges

China and Pakistan are friendly to each other and keep close ties in cultural exchanges. The representatives of the two governments signed culture agreement in Rawalpindi in March 1965 and for the first time two sides signed the Implementation Program of Annual Cultural Exchanges. Up to now, there have been 9 implementation programs between the two countries.

Source from website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

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