Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has said Pakistan is committed to defusing the tensions in South Asia and will reopen dialogue with India.

He made the remarks when meeting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei, who was also a special envoy of the Chinese government, at the President House here on Monday.

Terrorism is a regional issue and requires joints efforts in the region to deal with, Zardari said.

Zardari said Pakistan made positive gestures after the Mumbai attacks but India responded with counterproductive allegations.

On his part, He Yafei said that China keeps an eye on the development of the situation in the region and hopes Pakistan and India co-exist in peace and develop side by side.

China looks forward to continuing to play a constructive role in defusing the tensions between Pakistan and India and promoting peace and stability in the South Asian region, He said.

Zardari and He also vowed to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and deepen the traditional friendship between Pakistan and China.

He Yafei arrived in Islamabad on Sunday. He held separate meetings with Pakistani leaders in a bid to ease the tensions between Pakistan and India after the Mumbai attacks, which left more than 170 dead in November.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2008)