Special Report: Pakistani Situation

    By Rao Bo, Li Jingchen

    ISLAMABAD, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said Monday that Pakistan and China "should go closer" and learn more from each other.

    He made the remarks in an interview with Chinese journalists here at the President's House.

    Answering a question about his scheduled second visit to China on Feb. 20 as the president, Zardari said the relationship and friendship between Pakistan and China was started by former Pakistani leader and his father-in-law Zulfikar Ali Bhutto around 50 years ago.

    "I have always considered that one learns from the wisdom of history and one learns from the wisdom of one's forefathers," Zardari said, with a clear reference to the great contributions Ali Bhutto had made to strengthen the relationship with China.

    Zardari also mentioned that a lot of Chinese nationals were working in Pakistan and there were also a large number of Pakistanis in China, a sign that the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries were deep-rooted.

    Zardari said his visit to China, which would cover Hubei province and Shanghai city, was aimed at exploring mutually beneficial cooperation with the development and industrial hubs in China.

    China was the first destination for Zardari's foreign visit.

    He paid his first visit to China in mid-October last year and the Foreign Office of Pakistan said it was his first official visit abroad.

Pakistan president's visit to promote financial co-op with China

    BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will promote financial and economic cooperation with China through a visit next week, Ambassador of Pakistan to China Masood Khan told a press conference here Friday.

    Zardari, who was invited by the Chinese government, will visit Hubei Province and Shanghai from Feb. 20 to Feb. 23. He will spend one day each in Wuhan, Yichang and Shanghai.  Full story