Premier Wen Jiabao said yesterday that China and Pakistan, which enjoy increasingly solid traditional friendly relations, should work to increase bilateral trade volume according to the newly signed preferential trade arrangements between the two sides.

The two countries should do a good job in carrying out the projects in question, which are both under construction and being proposed, so that they can bring economic and social benefits to the two countries at an early date, Wen said at a meeting with visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Based on good political ties, the two sides will expand trade and economic partnership with China's sustained, healthy and steady economic development and growing trade, Wen said.

Musharraf praised Pakistan-China relations as time-honoured, saying the traditional friendship and mutual trust between the two peoples would push forward bilateral relations.

He agreed with Wen on expansion of bilateral trade and economic relations and said China is able to play a key role in promoting regional co-operation in Asia.

Chinese leaders Wu Bangguo and Jia Qinglin also met with Musharraf yesterday.

Musharraf also said China has emerged as a positive force for economic stability and progress in Asia and the world at large.

During a 40-minute speech at Peking University, Musharraf looked forward to China's economic engagement in Central and Southwest Asia "similar to its economic and commercial role across the Asia-Pacific."

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