Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf met in Islamabad Wednesday
with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan.?
Extending warm welcome to Cao and his delegation, Musharraf said
the
Sino-Pakistani relations are based on a stable foundation and
bilateral friendship is time-testing.
He expressed appreciation for the lasting help from the Chinese
government and the Chinese army.
He also hailed the effective cooperation in the field of
anti-terrorism between the two countries.
Cao Gangchuan, who is also vice chairman of the Central Military
Commission (CMC) and a state councilor, conveyed the good wishes of
the Chinese leadership to Musharraf.
He said China and Pakistan are good neighbors and the relations
between the two armies have remained close. He expressed the hope
that the current level of cooperation between the two sides will be
further strengthened.
Cao also said China wishes that all South Asian nations will
have a prosperous and stable future.
He praised Pakistan's efforts to open a dialogue process with
India and said China will keep on supporting the Pakistan-India
peace process.
Cao arrived here Monday on a three-nation tour that will also
take him to India and Thailand.
(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2004)