The armed forces of China and Pakistan have kept close contacts and achieved fruitful cooperation over the years, Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan said in Beijing on Wednesday.

 

In a meeting with visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Cao said that China-Pakistan friendship is firmly rooted in the hearts of the peoples of the two countries.

 

China and Pakistan have increasingly developed friendly cooperation in various fields over the past years, said Cao, who is also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and State Councilor.

 

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties, China would like to take this opportunity to work with Pakistan to further "all-round cooperation," Cao said.

 

Noting the Pakistani government values the partnership with China, Musharraf said that Pakistan will continuously commit itself to developing full cooperation with Chinese departments, including the Chinese defense ministry and armed forces.

 

Hopefully the cooperation will inject vitality into the strategic partnership between the two countries, Musharraf said.

 

As his five-day state visit coincided with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Musharraf unveiled a series of commemorative events in Beijing apart from meeting with senior Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao.

 

Musharraf will also visit Southwest China's Sichuan Province before he wraps up the visit on Thursday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2006)