SHANGHAI, May 22 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.

At a bilateral meeting, Xi said that China backs Pakistan in practicing a counter-terrorism strategy based on its national conditions and is willing to enhance bilateral security cooperation to safeguard the peace and stability of the two countries and the region.

Hussain said that the "East Turkistan" terrorism forces are a common enemy of Pakistan and China and vowed to make joint efforts with China to combat the terrorists.

Pakistan will take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and projects in the country, Hussain said.

Xi hailed the recent development of China-Pakistan relations and said he is willing to pay a state visit to Pakistan at a proper time to push bilateral strategic coordination and pragmatic cooperation to a new stage.

Hussain said that Pakistani-Chinese friendship is the foundation of Pakistani foreign relations. Pakistan appreciates China's long-term support, he said, stressing that the government and the people expect Xi to visit the country at an early date.

On economic cooperation, Xi called on the two countries to jointly promote the construction of the China-Pakistan economic corridor, an important part of the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st century maritime Silk Road.

He urged the two sides to ensure the operation of joint projects in Pakistan's Gwadar port and Lahore Metro.

Hailing the Pakistan-China economic corridor, Hussain said Pakistan is willing to create good conditions for projects and hopes the two sides will enhance cooperation in electricity.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of a framework agreement on the orange line of the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System.

Hussain, who attended the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) on Wednesday, praised the success of the summit, stressing he believes that China, which holds the new presidency of the CICA, will promote CICA to achieve greater development.