Through their first ever high-level strategic dialogue, the United States and Pakistan are trying to strengthen their partnership based on mutual respect and mutual trust, which they say is in their common interests.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) and visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi hold a press briefing following their meeting at the State Department in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, March 24, 2010. [Zhang Jun/Xinhua]

The U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, being held in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday, is the first ever held at the ministerial level on both governments.

"We have made it very clear that this Strategic Dialogue is in Pakistan's interests and in the United States' interests," said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Wednesday afternoon at the joint press conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

"We discussed our shared goals: to protect our citizens and our countries from the violent extremism that threatens us both, to see Pakistan prosper as a strong democracy in a stable region, to cooperate on issues that improve the daily lives of the Pakistani people," said Clinton.

The secretary expressed her respect for the sacrifices that Pakistan has made in combating terrorists, reaffirming that the United States will stand with the Pakistani people and offer assistance necessary to confront challenges facing them.

According to Clinton, the United States will ensure the Pakistanis have access to affordable and reliable power, and the two governments on Thursday will sign implementation agreements for three thermal power station rehabilitation projects.

"We certainly encourage the dialogue between India and Pakistan... The in-depth discussion between both countries that we think would benefit each of them with respect to security and development," said Clinton, referring to Washington's stance on the Pakistan-India relations.

Early on Wednesday, Clinton, at the start of a U.S.-Pakistan strategic dialogue, said that the United States wants a new relationship with Pakistan based on mutual respect and mutual trust.

"This is a new day. For the past year, the Obama administration has shown in our words and deeds a different approach and attitude toward Pakistan," Clinton said in her opening remarks, adding that the United States will not let Pakistan stand alone in times of trouble and would "be on the side of Pakistan in the need of an hour."

At the joint press conference with Clinton on Wednesday afternoon, Foreign Minister Qureshi, who has been calling on both the countries to "move a relation to a partnership," voiced his satisfaction with the "complete change" of U.S. Congress' attitude toward Islamabad.

"It's 180 degree difference. We've turned the corner. And today, there was confidence. There were no question marks. There was no suspicion. There was no 'do more.' There was recognition of what we already had done. There was appreciation of what we had already done," he said.

Islamabad reportedly presented a "wish list" to the White House ahead of the strategic dialogue, asking Washington to play a constructive role in the Pakistan-India peace process and to offer a series of assistance ranging from military equipment to nuclear cooperation.

The Obama administration reaffirmed last December its commitment to Islamabad by helping Pakistan address immediate energy, water and economic crises.

It also promised to back broader economic reforms necessary to put Pakistan on a path toward sustainable growth, and to help it build on its success against militants in an effort to eliminate extremist sanctuaries in the country.