On October 13, 2008, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmoud Qurishi, who is here to pave the way for Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's upcoming visit to China.

"Zardari's visit, his first trip abroad since assuming office in September, showcases the great importance the Pakistani president and his administration have given to the bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership," Yang said. Yang termed the visit "an important engagement" between two leaderships since the founding of Pakistan's new government. "China attaches great importance to the visit and expects it to step up bilateral political, economic and trade cooperation and push forward the China-Pakistan all-weather friendship and strategic cooperative partnership."

Qurishi said the two nations shared a sincere fraternal friendship and President Zardari and the new Pakistani administration gave top priority to ties with China. He said Pakistan hoped the visit would further enhance bilateral strategic cooperative partnership and boost the friendly cooperation in economic, trade and cultural areas.

Both sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.