ISLAMABAD - China and Pakistan will enhance strategic coordination, advance pragmatic cooperation and work together to meet challenges in pursuit of common development, said a joint communique signed on Sunday by the two countries.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signed the communique with his Pakistani counterpart, Yousuf Raza Gilani, during his three-day visit to the Southern Asian country.

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During his stay in Pakistan, Wen met with President Asif Ali Zardari, Senate Chairman Farooq Hamid Naek, National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, leaders of the main political parties, and top military leaders.

Leaders of the two countries had an in-depth exchange of views on further strengthening and deepening the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation, on major international and regional issues of common interest in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, and reached broad consensus, the communique said.

Leaders of the two countries shared the view that against the backdrop of a complex and ever changing international and regional situation, it is of high significance to consolidate and deepen the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation.

The communique said China-Pakistan relations had gone beyond bilateral dimensions and acquired broader regional and international ramifications. Friendship and cooperation between China and Pakistan serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and contribute to peace, stability and development in the region and beyond.

The two sides declared the year 2011 the Year of China-Pakistan Friendship, and decided to hold a series of activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, it said.

In the communique, the Chinese side reiterated that the Chinese government always places high on its diplomatic agenda the consolidation and development of relations with Pakistan and is firm on the policy of pursuing friendly ties with Pakistan.

The Pakistani side stressed that pursuing friendship with China is the bedrock of Pakistan's foreign policy and national consensus, and Pakistan will continue to pursue the policy of further strengthening friendship with China.

Both sides hold the view that exchange of high-level visits and contacts between leaders of the two countries have played an irreplaceable role in promoting bilateral relations, the communique said.

They decided to maintain regular mutual visits and contacts at the leadership level, establish the annual meeting mechanism between leaders, set up and reinforce a foreign ministers' dialogue mechanism to strengthen China-Pakistan strategic consultation and coordination.

In the communique, the two sides agreed to prioritize cooperation in infrastructure, energy and agriculture and decided to renew the Five Year Development Program on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

The two sides also vowed to continue to enhance mutual trust and cooperation in the military and security fields, expand cultural, sport and people-to-people interactions in a comprehensive manner, and engage in broad contacts between universities, think-tanks, academic institutions, mass media, and film and television industries, the communique said.

As terrorism, separatism and extremism are posing serious threats to regional peace, stability and security, the two countries reaffirmed their resolve to undertake substantive cooperation within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, and jointly fight the three forces, it said.

The Chinese premier arrived in Islamabad on Friday after a three-day official visit to India.