Pakistan, China leaders pledge to strengthen ties

President Asif Ali Zardari said a good and durable relationship between China and Pakistan is vital for regional peace.

The president said this at a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

President Zardari is in China on a six-day official visit.

The Chinese prime minister said officials of both the countries must regularly visit each other to further strengthen relations.

China and Pakistan have inked two agreements and four MOUs to increase cooperation in agriculture, health, economy, legal assistance and media.

China has also announced a grant of 50 million Yuan to Pakistan for new development projects in the country.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chinese President Hu Jintao welcomed his Pakistani counterpart where the two leaders expressed their commitment to deepening ties in energy, communications and infrastructure construction.