China's Hu to cement Pakistani ties

Chinese President Hu Jintao is due in Pakistan on Thursday for a visit that is expected to cement the old friends' "all-weather relationship" that was for decades underpinned by their mutual hostility towards India.

Hu is arriving from India where he agreed with leaders to double trade and work to resolve border disputes. He will be keen to demonstrate China's steadfast support for Pakistan despite the warming Indian ties, analysts said.

"There's a redefining of the relationship. The Chinese are demonstrating they're keen to have strong relations with both Pakistan and India," said former Pakistani foreign secretary Tanvir Ahmad Khan.

"This is partly because China does not want to leave the South Asian sub-continent to other external powers." "They'll try to demonstrate that friendship with India is not at the expense of Pakistan," he said.

Hu's visit is the first by a Chinese president in a decade and marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations which Khan described as Pakistan's most stable.

The constancy of their friendship contrasts sharply with the on-off relationship Pakistan has had with the United States.

REUTERS