On June 7, 2012, Vice President Xi Jinping met in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari who came to China for a state visit and to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
Xi said that China and Pakistan are close and friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers and people of both countries have profound and friendly feelings for each other and view each other as sincere and reliable friend. Since China and Pakistan established diplomatic ties 61 years ago, the bilateral relations have withstood the tests of time and fluctuating international situation and the two sides established all-weathered friendship and conducted all-round cooperation. Both countries always abide by the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, respect each other's right to independently choosing development path according to their national circumstances and support each other on issues involving their core interests. China-Pakistan relations have become the model of harmonious co-existence and friendly cooperation between countries with different social institutions and cultures.
He noted that China-Pakistan relations have a solid social foundation and to further consolidate and develop the relations not only conforms to the fundamental interests and common aspiration of people on both sides but also significantly helps maintain and promote regional peace, stability and development. China has always made it a diplomatic priority to develop relations with Pakistan and is willing to make joint efforts to continue to enhance the strategic mutual trust, deepen the all-round cooperation and bring the China-Pakistan strategic partnership to new heights.
Zardari first of all warmly congratulated China for hosting an excellent SCO summit. He said that Pakistan-China relations enjoy a long history and people of both countries feel each other like brothers. Each Pakistani people, regardless of his or her political views, supports Pakistan-China friendship and feels proud of China's development achievements. Pakistan-China relations are the top priority of Pakistan's foreign policy. Pakistan appreciates China's long-term assistance for its economic and social development and firmly supports China on all the issues involving China's core and major interests. Pakistan hopes to further strengthen cooperation with China in various fields. It expects more Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan and people on both sides to build closer ties and carry on the bilateral friendship from generation to generation.
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the meeting.