Pakistan has always believed that there is only one China, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, according to Pakistan's Ambassador to China Riaz Khokhar.

Taiwan is and will remain an inalienable part of China. As the Chinese government has successively resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao, the reunification of China cannot be postponed indefinitely, Khokhar said in an interview with Xinhua on the eve of Pakistan's National Day, which falls March 23.

"The relationship between Pakistan and China is a state-to- state and people-to-people one, based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence," he said, adding that their relationship has withstood the test of time and has moved from strength to strength.

Calling Sino-Pakistani relations "exemplary and forward-looking ", the ambassador said that such a relationship is a factor of stability both at the regional and the international level. "The government and people of Pakistan are convinced that the changing regional and international situation will bring the two countries even closer," he said.

With regard to Sino-Pakistani economic and trade cooperation, he said, there exists potential yet to be fully reached, adding that various proposals designed for strengthening economic cooperation are under review.

Moreover, during Pakistan Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf's two-day working visit to China two months ago, the two countries signed a new agreement on economic and technological cooperation to broaden their economic links.

Musharraf has visited several countries since he assumed his office last October. In addition, Pakistan also received a number of visit from Western leaders. US President Bill Clinton will visit Pakistan later this month.

"We want to promote peace and stability at both the regional and international levels," said Khokhar, commenting on Pakistan's foreign policy. He added that Musharraf will pay visits to more countries.

"As a sincere and old friend of China, Pakistan would like to see China have good relations with all the countries in the world, including India," the ambassador said, adding that he believes that as Sino-Indian relations improve, China will play an even greater role in stabilizing South Asia.