On May 11, Premier Zhu Rongji held formal talks with Pakistani Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf in the Chief Executive's Office. Zhu spoke highly of the development of China-Pakistan relations in the past five decades and expressed willingness to work with the Pakistani side to further develop the all-round partnership of cooperation between the two countries.

Musharraf first expressed his warm welcome to Zhu's visit in such an inspiring time when both Pakistan and China were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. He believed that this visit of great significance would undoubtedly propel the continuing flourish of the bilateral relations in the new century. In retrospect of the friendship lasting for half a century between Pakistan and China, Musharraf said that Pak-China relations withstood any change in the international arena and kept gaining consolidation and development. Looking into the future, he showed full confidence that the comprehensively cooperative partnership would bear more fruits with the traditional friendship of the two countries as a solid cornerstone.

Zhu responded Musharraf's welcome by saying that he appreciated the opportunity to conduct an official visit to Pakistan. He said that this is the hottest time in summer in Pakistan, but he and his colleagues felt friendly feelings of the Pakistani people even warmer than the temperature, which shows the depth of China-Pakistan traditional friendship. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, which is a major event in the history of bilateral relations. His current visit was mainly aimed at joining the celebration together with the Pakistani government and people.

He spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations. He said that China and Pakistan are good neighbors linked by mountains and waters with the friendship between the two peoples dating back to ancient times. In the past five decades since the two countries established diplomatic relations, great changes have taken place in the international situation as well as their domestic situations in China an Pakistan. However, the friendly relations between the two have never been affected and developed better and better instead. The past five decades has been a noticeable history of incessant improvement of mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between China and Pakistan.

He stressed that the Chinese government attached great importance to the traditional friendship and cooperation and set it an established policy to promote and consolidate such relations, which not only kept in accordance with the common desires and fundamental interests of the people in both countries, but also made for the regional stability and development. He promised that China would make devoted and concerted efforts with Pakistan to move their bilateral relations forward. We are fully confident of the prospects of China-Pakistan relations.

Musharraf also briefed Zhu on the current situations in Pakistan. Zhu extended congratulations to the Pakistani government for the various efforts and apparent achievements it has made during the past one and half year in the stabilization of political situation, economic revival, anti-corruption and establishment of good governance.

On Pakistan-China economic relations and trade, Musharraf said that the two countries have a long history of cooperation in economic and trade areas. Pakistan thanked the Chinese side for its generous support and assistance in economic and technological forms to Pakistan for years, and expressed that Pakistan was willing to expand cooperation in such fields with China. Zhu said that economic cooperation is a major part of the bilateral relations. China and Pakistan have made great progress in economic cooperation and trade in recent years. China attaches great importance to economic relations and trade with Pakistan and will make further efforts to increase and expand the level of economic and trade cooperation.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. On the situation in South Asia, Zhu said that as a close neighbor of that region, China attaches great importance to the situation here and sincerely hopes that South Asia may maintain peace and stability. The countries in the region can achieve peaceful political coexistence, treat each other equally, conduct close economic cooperation, develop together and work to ensure the security harmony and economic development of the region as a whole. That not only conforms to the common aspiration and fundamental interests of all peoples in the South Asia and also conduces to the peace and stability of Asia and the world. The Chinese side is ready to work with Pakistan and other South Asian countries to make due contributions to that goal.