Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji told Pakistani Special Envoy Sahabzada Yakub Khan in Beijing on November 19 that the Sino-Pakistani friendly cooperative partnership will be further consolidated and strengthened in the next century.

China attaches importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations with Pakistan. The friendship between China and Pakistan, two friendly neighbors, has withstood all sorts of trials, Zhu said, adding that the governments and peoples of the two countries have always understood, trusted, and supported each other.

He noted that this bilateral friendship is not only in the common interest of the two peoples, but conducive to the peace and stability of the region and of the world at large.

Yakub Khan said that the Pakistani government and people cherish the friendly cooperation between the two countries, and would like to further efforts to push forward bilateral friendship.

Pakistan also highly appreciates the positive role China has played in safeguarding peace and stability in the region and in the world.

The Pakistani special envoy arrived here on Wednesday following visits to France, the United States, and Japan.