Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf on Sunday sent congratulatory message to each other over the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between their countries.

Hu said that China and Pakistan have established all-weather friendship and all-dimensional cooperation on the basis of five principles of peaceful coexistence since they forged diplomatic ties 55 years ago, which have brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and contributed in an active way to regional and international peace, stability and development.

The Sino-Pakistan relationship has set an example to developing countries in fostering relations with neighboring countries, said the Chinese president.

China has always perceived its relations with Pakistan from a long-term and strategic prospect, and is willing to work with the Pakistani side to develop their traditional friendship, broaden the mutually beneficial cooperation and create a better future for the China-Pakistan strategic ties of cooperation in the new century, he said.

In his message, President Musharraf said that as neighbors, the two peoples have had hundreds of years of close interactions. Their all-weather friendship has been tested by time and become more and more mature since the establishment of bilateral relations, he said.

Pakistan is determined to work with the Chinese side to constantly push their ties to a new height, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2006)