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)