By Xinhua
Sanya (China) : Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday proposed a strategic partnership with Pakistan to consolidate bilateral relations.
The five-point proposal was offered by Chinese President Hu Jintao during a meeting with his visiting Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf in the southernmost city of China where both of them would attend a regional economic conference Saturday.
The strategic partnership proposed by the Chinese president envisioned exchanges between the legislatures, political parties and the armed forces of the two countries, deepening and diversification of trade relations and consultations on major issues.
Hu proposed that negotiations on service trade should be accelerated, and a comprehensive free trade area should be established at the earliest.
The Chinese president urged the two countries to strengthen cooperation in fighting terrorism and drug control, and enhance exchanges and cooperation over security during the Beijing Olympic Games.
Hu suggested the two countries act in close cooperation at various international and regional forums such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Musharraf arrived in China Thursday on a five-day visit. During his stay in Hainan, Musharraf will also attend the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), due to open Saturday afternoon in Boao.