President Jiang Zemin reiterated Friday that China hopes India and Pakistan can resolve their disputes peacefully through dialogue.
Jiang made the remarks while meeting his Pakistan counterpart, Pervez Musharraf, who arrived in Beijing Friday morning on a stopover after Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Jiang also expressed China's concern for the political and economic situation in Afghanistan, saying China supports the reconstruction process there.
Jiang told Musharraf that the successful conclusion of Loyal Jirga of Afghanistan and the establishment of the Afghanistan Government are the key first steps to lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The Jirga elected members of the Afghan transitional government through consultations in June. This is the first government elected by Afghan people in many years.
Jiang said Afghanistan still faces a number of difficulties on the path towards peace. Regarding the strain between India and Pakistan, Jiang said China supports efforts to alleviate the tension and safeguard peace and stability there.
Musharraf updated Jiang on the latest domestic situation in Pakistan and stressed that Pakistan does not want to be involved in a war and will not start a war.
Musharraf pledged that Pakistan would do its best to achieve regional peace and stability.
Indian and Pakistani troops have reportedly exchanged gunfire along the line of control and the international border in south Kashmir since the end of last month.
Small arms intermittently fired between the two sides were also reported in 28 places along the international border between the two neighbors in south Kashmir.
The Chinese president said his country appreciates the policies Pakistan has adopted since the September 11 US terrorist attacks, saying they are firm and clear.
Jiang spoke highly of the relations between China and Pakistan, saying both nations have respected, understood and supported each other since the two established diplomatic ties about 50 years ago.
The bilateral ties are "time-tested'' and will further develop, Jiang was quoted as saying by a foreign ministry spokesman.
Musharraf left for home Friday shortly after the meeting.
(China Daily August 3, 2002)
