On January 25, 2010, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of a regional summit on Afghanistan in Istanbul, Turkey.

Yang first conveyed President Hu Jintao’s cordial greetings and best wishes to Zardari. Yang said China-Pakistan relations have always maintained a sound momentum of development and both sides have kept frequent high-level contacts, made smooth progress in economic cooperation and shown mutual understanding and support on major issues of common concern. Under the new situation, China is ready to work with Pakistan to continue maintaining high-level exchanges, build up political trust, expand parliamentary, party-to-party and military exchanges as well as those between the government agencies of the two countries, deepen exchanges and cooperation in all areas and further enhance coordination in regional and international issue, so as to continuously consolidate and deepen China-Pakistan strategic cooperative relations.

Zardari thanked for President Hu’s greetings and asked Yang to convey his regards to President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders. He said Pakistan-China relations are historic and strategic. Pakistan always gives top priority to relations with China and highly praises China’s achievements in economic and social development. Pakistan hopes to learn more from China’s experience of development and to further enhance cooperation with China so as to push bilateral ties to a new level.

The regional summit on Afghanistan will be held on January 26 in Istanbul. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will attend the meeting as the special representative of Chinese President Hu Jintao.