Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi(R) shakes hands with Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Hina Rabbani Khar during their meeting in Beijing, August 24, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said on Tuesday that Pakistan and China enjoyed unique relations and holding of dialogue was the ongoing process between the two countries.

Talking to mediapersons on arrival here at the Beijing Capital International Airport, she said leadership of both countries had invested immensely for enhancement of existing strong bonds of freindship.

She said Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had laid the foundation of these bilateral relations, and now President Asif Ali Zardari was carrying forward these ties to new heights by frequently visiting China.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani also paid several visits, she added. She pointed out that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Pakistan in December last year was also an historic one as it helped in further enhancing the bilateral relations.

The Foreign Minister said said the visit of Premier Wen played an important role in further deepening the depth of existing strong relationship.

She said "these relationship strongly exists among peoples and governments of two countries and now we want to commensurate these ties with trade, economic and investment cooperation".

The Foreign Minister said that China is one of the countries with which Pakistan has signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and both the sides could get benefits from FTA.

The Foreign Minister arrived late Tuesday evening on a 2-day visit at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

She said that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi extended invitation to visit China during her meeting at Bali.

She pointed out that existing strong bonds of friendship between Pakistan and China was multi-faceted and covered all areas including defence, economic and trade ties.

"We have strategic and robust relations with China", she said adding that one cannot bracket these ties with other countries.

At the Beijing Capital International Airport Ms. Khar was warmly greeted by Ambassador Masood Khan, senior diplomats from Pakistan Embassy and officials from Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Earlier, Ambassador Masood Khan said that "this is a very important visit coming at a time when Pakistan and China enjoy enviable solidarity in all areas."

Khan pointed out that "the Foreign Minister's visit will help us consolidate our strong ties and steer them towards even deeper strategic and political engagement and more productive economic cooperation".

"It will be a meeting between time-tested and trusted friends and partners", Khan said and added "Naturally, regional and international situation will be reviewed by the two sides".

Symbolically too, Ambassador Khan said, the visit is important because this will be Pakistan Foreign Minister's first visit to China after assuming her office.

"The two sides will exchange views on consolidating and deepening the strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan and on other regional and international issues that are of concern to both," the Xinhua news agency quoted the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu while making the announcement of Ms Khan visit.