Chinese President Hu Jintao met in the hotel where he stayed in Astana with Pakistani Prime Minister Aziz

On the morning of July 6, 2005, Chinese President Hu Jintao met in the hotel where he stayed with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Hu first of all extended congratulations to Pakistan on becoming a formal observer of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), pointing out it will not only help strengthen the cooperation between Pakistan and the SCO member states in working for regional stability and development but also create a new platform for the cooperation between the two countries.

The relations between China and Pakistan are the showcase of harmonious co-existence and sincere cooperation between countries with different social systems, religions and cultural background, which serves as an important factor to maintain peace and stability in the region, said Hu. China is willing to work with Pakistan to further accelerate the progress of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. Economic and trade cooperation is one of the major driving forces behind the development of bilateral ties and brings about tangible benefits to the two peoples. The rapid economic growth of the two countries also creates opportunities for both sides to deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation. The China-Pakistan relations enjoy solid support from their people and the exchanges of civil societies should be encouraged and strengthened, with special attention to supporting and pushing for the exchanges of various forms between the youth of the two countries.

Aziz noted that Pakistan will actively promote its cooperation with the SCO member states in a bid to realize common development. He stressed that the friendly relations between Pakistan and China is getting increasingly close and the bilateral cooperation is highly fruitful. Pakistan welcomes an increasing number of Chinese businesses to participate in its economic development and supports the two countries in conducting exchanges of diversified forms.

Both sides also exchanged opinions on the international and regional issues of common concern. Aziz introduced Pakistan's efforts to improve relations with India. Hu reaffirmed that China always supports the reconciliation between Pakistan and India and maintaining peace and stability in southern Asia and expects to continue playing a constructive role to that end. Talking about the UN reform, both sides agreed that the organization needs reform, but the will and interest of developing countries should be taken into full account. The reform of the UN Security Council should give priority to increasing the representation of developing countries and the specific reform plans should be discussed deeply and consulted comprehensively in the principle of democratization of international relations so as to reach wide consensus, promote the smooth reform of the UN and build up solidarity among its members.