BEIJING, OCT 16 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan has the will and ability to fight terrorism and fighting this menace was his “priority number one.”“We have the ability, we have the will to fight against terrorism,” Prime Minister Gilani said in an interview published on the first page of prominent English language China Daily on Friday.Mr. Gilani called for more help from China in intelligence sharing. “There should be more exchange of intelligence and information between the two countries,” he said.

Prime Minister Gilani said the death of Bailullah Mehsud in August signaled a “new thrust” for his government’s effort..

“The SCO can play an extremely important role in combating terrorism and extremism,” Mr. Gilani added.

The Chinese print and electronic media including CCTV, China Daily, People’s Daily, Beijing Reviews and other publications interviewed Prime Minister Gilani before he left or home Thursday.

He told the media his visit to Beijing was very successful.

The Prime Minister visited China from October 12-15 on the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao to attend the SCO Heads of Government meeting and to meet the Chinese leadership.

During his stay here, he held wide ranging talks with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. He also met Mr. Jia Qinglin, Chairman CPPCC, who hosted a banquet in honour of the Prime Minister. The leaders of important Chinese corporations also called on the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

The talks between the two sides were characterized by traditional warmth, friendship and mutual understanding. Both sides expressed complete satisfaction with the development of comprehensive cooperation in all fields and agreed to further enhance their cooperation in economy, trade, science and technology, culture and people to people relations.

The two sides expressed satisfaction that despite changes in the international, regional and domestic environment, the friendship between China and Pakistan has withstood with the test of time and practice. The all whether friendship and all round cooperation have become the distinctive features of Pakistan-China relations.

 Matters pertaining to defence cooperation between the two countries were also discussed.

China reiterated its full support for Pakistan’s efforts to preserve its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s important role in promoting peace and stability in the region.

“China considers Pakistan its close friend, good neighbour, good partner and dear brother,” Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood Khan told APP.

He stressed that relations with China remain the cornerstone of Pakistan foreign policy, and friendship with China is the common desire of all Pakistani people.

The envoy pointed out that Pakistan unequivocally upholds the one-China policy and considers Taiwan an inseparable part of the People’s Republic of China and supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to realize national reunification.

Pakistan applauds China’s efforts to maintain ethnic harmony, national unity and territorial integrity. Pakistan fully supports China’s policies and actions aimed at promoting ethnic harmony, social stability and economic development in Xinjiang.

Both sides are united in their staunch opposition to the evil forces of terrorism, extremism and separatism, and are closely cooperating to eliminate them in all forms.

China conveyed its complete support for Pakistan’s commitment and efforts to fight terrorism and praised the sacrifices made by the armed forces and people of Pakistan in its recent counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.

Beijing expressed its full support for the efforts of the Government of Pakistan to promote socio-economic development and, in this regard, agreed to continue its development assistance to Pakistan through bilateral channels in the energy, infrastructure development and mining sectors, and to extend support for projects under the Pakistan-China Joint Five Year Economic and Trade Cooperation Plan.

Both sides vowed to tap the full potential of the comprehensive bilateral Free Trade Agreements on Goods (2007), and Trade in Services (2009), as well as the Additional Protocol to the FTA on Investment (2008).

They expressed satisfaction that the bilateral trade in 2009 had not been adversely affected by the international financial crisis and reiterated their resolve to make joint efforts to meet the target of US $ 15 billion bilateral trade as soon as possible. The two sides also agreed to exchange trade and purchasing missions to further stimulate the two-way trade.

Both countries underlined the importance of bilateral investment in enhancing the Pakistan-China economic relations. In this regard, China agreed to encourage Chinese corporations to invest in Pakistan. Both sides also committed to make full use of mechanisms like the Pakistan-China Joint Investment Company.

The two sides agreed to convene a meeting of Pakistan-China Economic Cooperation Group at an early date to speed up the implementation of the Five Year Development Programme on Economic Cooperation. They also agreed to convene the next meeting of the Joint Economic Commission at a mutually convenient date as soon as possible.

The two sides agreed to enhance cultural cooperation and people to people contacts through increased exchange of students, youth, parliamentarians and media persons.

Prime Minister Gilani invited Premier Wen Jiabao to visit Pakistan once again at his convenience. The invitation was accepted with pleasure.