Islamabad, Apr 26 : Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani on Saturday said that his country accords high priority to its close relationship with China.

Talking to  Gilani said Pakistan and China enjoy a broad-based relationship and the two countries were actively cooperating in political, diplomatic, economic and defence fields.

He further said that China was Pakistan's strategic partner and a time-tested friend.

Both the leaders agreed to increase trade, investments and cooperation in the fields of defence, science and technology, and education besides enhancing people to people contact.

Gillani said Pakistan was confronting challenges in the food and energy sectors and the government was working on short and long-term measures to overcome these, adding that his government would welcome Chinese cooperation to effectively deal with these problems at the earliest.

Referring to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China, Gilani said FTA would open up new avenues between the two countries to further enhance trade.

Yang Jiechi said that China would continue its cooperation with Pakistan in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. (ANI)