Zardari's China connection sees him receiving 'unprecedented' protocol

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari seems to share a special relationship with China, as he receives an extra ordinary welcome in Beijing that no other leader of any state enjoys during his visit to the communist country.

During his recent China visit, Zardari received an unprecedented protocol and Beijing also acknowledged that no head of state is ever given such a protocol if he is on a working visit to cities other than Beijing.

"This is rare. When dignitaries from other countries are there in Chinese provinces, they are received by an official of the Chinese foreign ministry. No one outside Beijing gets protocol which President Zardari receives during his working visits," Chinese ambassador to Islamabad Lou Zhaohui said.

Interacting with media person at the Chinese embassy here, Zhaohui said Zardari, during his first official visit to China last October, had committed to come there every three months and visit a new province each time.

He praised Zardari for keeping his promise for visiting China thrice in the recent past to take note of the Chinese model of development, which he (Zardari) wants to implement in Pakistan.

Zhaohui also informed that Chinese President Hu Jintao would meet his Pakistani counterpart in New York later this month on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

He said the meeting will focus on strengthening bilateral ties of the two nations.

"The focus would be on a wide range of regional and international issues, but of course the emphasis would be on bilateral relations. The interaction will further deepen friendship with China," Zhaohui said.

"It is important for the leaderships to establish personal friendship," he added.