The enduring friendship between China and Pakistan, forged by the older generation of leaders on both countries, is a valuable asset for the two countries and their people, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during talks with visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Beijing on Wednesday.
Zardari arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a five-day state visit to China at the invitation of Xi.
When meeting with Zardari at the Great Hall of the People, Xi called the Pakistani president a dear old friend of the Chinese people, and said that the two countries share an enduring and ironclad friendship.
"It is a great pleasure to meet you again, Mr. President. You are a seasoned Pakistani statesman and also a dear old friend of the Chinese people. China and Pakistan are ironclad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners. The enduring traditional friendship between China and Pakistan, forged by the older generation of leaders of the two countries, is a valuable asset of the two countries and the two peoples," Xi said.
"In recent years, our two sides have offered each other firm political support, maintained close high-level exchanges, and deepened the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and cooperation in various fields, setting a stellar example of state-to-state relations," he said.
Zardari, echoing Xi, pledged his country's steadfast support to China and the Chinese people.
"I'm grateful to the people of China, the people of this continent, to have you. Pakistan and China will always be friends, no matter how many issues come up in the world. I will stand, Pakistani people will stand, with the people of China, and China, China, and China," he said.
Enduring China-Pakistan friendship valuable asset for both countries, peoples: Xi
