Chinese premier raises five-point proposal for boosting cooperation with Pakistan

（Xinhua）  08:58, May 23, 2013  

ISLAMABAD, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presented here Wednesday a five-point proposal for further deepening friendship and cooperation with Pakistan.

He made the suggestions during talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Interim Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, during which the two sides reached important consensuses on boosting the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership.

"China-Pakistan ties are time-tested. The two countries are all-weather friends and partners that can trust and rely on each other," said the Chinese premier.

Despite the complex and volatile regional and global circumstances, the two countries have already maintained sound strategic communication and coordination, Li noted.

China, he said, has always treated the relationship with Pakistan as a foreign policy priority, and is ready to work with Pakistan to maintain the traditional friendship, promote comprehensive cooperation and achieve common development.

In order to deepen the China-Pakistan strategic cooperative partnership, Li proposed, the two neighbors should firstly strengthen strategic communication and coordination, maintain high-level contact, and thus steer the bilateral relationship forward.

Secondly, the two countries should reinforce strategic and long-term planning, and open up new cooperation areas such as connectivity and maritime sectors, the Chinese premier said.

They should start formulating a long-term plan for the China-Pakistan economic corridor project and gradually push forward its construction, added the premier.