Hu meets Pakistani PM
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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 support with China on regional and international issues. He asked China to play its important role in maintaining peace and stability in South Asia.
Gilani reiterated that the government of Pakistan will continue to 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 between Pakistan and China.
He said the two countries have brotherly relations, which were strengthened during the tenures of former prime ministers Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. He said his visit will boost cooperation between the two countries in defense, social, economic and cultural sectors.
Gilani launched a China Culture Week in Islamabad last month to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of 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 exchanges of visits in recent years. President Hu Jintao visited Pakistan in November 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 with Mongolia, India and Iran.
