Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 13, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

    BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met here Tuesday afternoon with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, and the two sides vowed to further deepen bilateral links.

    Hu said China-Pakistan relations have maintained a momentum of sound development since the new government came into office in Pakistan.

    China and Pakistan are friendly neighbors joined by mountains and rivers, Hu said. Since the two countries established diplomatic links more than half a century ago, they have always shared mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual support and mutual assistance no matter how the international situation and their domestic conditions changed.

    The two countries have developed an all-weather friendship and carried out all-dimensional cooperation, the Chinese president said.

    He said China-Pakistan relations enjoy solid social basis and strong vigor. Further reinforcing and advancing China-Pakistan relations are not only in conformity with the basic interests and common will of the two peoples, but also of great significance for maintaining and promoting peace, stability and development in the region.

    China has always attached priority to its relations with bordering countries, Hu said, expressing the willingness to join hands with Pakistan to further enhance mutual trust at strategic level, deepen cooperation in all dimensions so as to jointly open up an even brighter future for China-Pakistan strategic cooperation.

    Hu noted trade and economic cooperation makes an important partof China-Pakistan relations.

    "We are glad to witness the smooth progress of a number of major cooperative projects under the joint efforts of both sides, such as the Neelum-Jhelum hydro-electric project and the Karakorum Highway (KKH) upgrading project," Hu said.

    Noting that the two countries signed an agreement on service trade of China-Pakistan free trade zone in the beginning of this year, Hu said the agreement opened up broad prospect for bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

    The president said China places importance on trade and economic cooperation with Pakistan, expressing the willingness to advance China-Pakistan trade and economic cooperation to achieve greater fruits on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, win-win cooperation and practical and orderly operation.

    He expressed appreciation on Gilani's consistent effort to uphold China-Pakistan friendship and his focus on developing bilateral links.

    "I appreciate your comment that no matter how the international situation has changed, the peoples of China and Pakistan are always joined in hearts and hands," Hu said.

    Gilani arrived in Beijing Monday evening for a four-day visit to China.

    Hu said Gilani, like his late farther Alamdar Hussain Gilani, is an old and good friend of China. Hu recalled that in the 1950s,late Alamdar Hussain Gilani met with late Chinese leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai when visiting China. In the 1990s, Gilani visited China in the capacity of Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.

    Gilani thanked Hu for recalling the warm memory of his late father and his contact with older generation of Chinese leaders. He conveyed congratulations from the Pakistani people and President Asif Ali Zardari to China for the 60th anniversary of the founding the People's Republic of China.

    Gilani said Pakistan and China share a time-tested and all-weather friendship which has taken root deep in the hearts of the two peoples. Pakistan treasures and appreciates the firm support that China lent to it, Gilani said. He emphasized that Pakistan-China friendship and their strategic cooperative partnership constitute an important factor for peace and stability in the region.

    Gilani expressed the willingness to conduct closer cooperation, reinforce traditional friendship, push forward practical cooperation in various fields and advance major cooperative projects for greater progress.

    Gilani also expressed the wish to strengthen cooperation with China on the anti-terrorism front as terrorist attacks killed scores of people in Pakistan this month. He said Pakistan will continue to adopt forceful measures to secure the safety of Chinese institutes and personnel in the country.

    Gilani said Pakistan will continue to strengthen mutual supportwith China on regional and international issues. He asked China toplay its important role in maintaining peace and stability in South Asia.

    Gilani reiterated that the government of Pakistan will continueto firmly support China's stance on issues concerning its core interests, including issues related to Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang.

    During the current Beijing trip, Gilani met with Chinese officials in charge of overseas investment, coal mining and water conservation Tuesday morning.

    During his visit, Gilani is scheduled to met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Jia Qinglin, head of China's top political advisory body.

    It was Gilani's first visit to China since becoming prime minister in March.

    Gilani told reporters at airport upon leaving for China that the change of governments won't affect bilateral relations betweenPakistan and China.

    He said the two countries have brotherly relations, which were strengthened during the tenures of former prime ministers ZulfiqarAli Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. He said his visit will boost cooperation between the two countries in defense, social, economicand cultural sectors.

    Gilani launched a China Culture Week in Islamabad last month tomark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republicof China.

    Beijing and Islamabad have developed an all-weather friendship since the two countries established diplomatic links in 1951.

    Leaders of the two countries have maintained frequent exchangesof visits in recent years. President Hu Jintao visited Pakistan inNovember 2006. President Zardari paid his first visit to China only one month after assuming office in 2008. Zardari visited China twice in 2009.

    Gilani is to leave Beijing for home Thursday after attending a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO), which groups China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

    Pakistan is one of the four observers of the SCO, together withMongolia, India and Iran.

Xinhua Editor: Sun Yunlong