Beijing - China said it was sympathetic to Pakistan's financial situation and would help its long-term ally "within its capability" on Thursday, as Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari continued his visit.

"As an all-weather friend, China understands Pakistan's economic and financial difficulties," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

"We are ready to support and help Pakistan within our capability," Qin told reporters, adding that financial organizations in the two nations would "keep communication" over the issue.

Beijing - China's main stock market index lost more than 4 per cent on Thursday as shares followed the global fall after more bad news from Wall Street on Wednesday.

Beijing/Islamabad, Oct. 16 : Pakistan’s long-deteriorating financial situation has prompted it to approach cash rich China for help in shoring up its economy.

According to a Washington Post report, With the global financial crisis draining coffers in the United States and Europe, the key U. S. ally in the war on terrorism is seeking help from an old friend newly flush with cash: China.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is in Beijing on a four-day state visit, and he is likely to seek between four to six billion dollars from China to tied over his country’s economic crisis in the short term.

Beijing, Oct 15 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari met his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao here on Wednesday as he looked towards inking a series of agreements, including on civilian nuclear cooperation and securing a financial aid package.

During the visit, Beijing and Islamabad are expected to sign a possible deal on civil nuclear power cooperation.

Beijing  - Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday as the two nations signed economic cooperation agreements covering satellites, trade, mining, agriculture and other sectors.

State media quoted Hu as saying that Zardari's family were "all old friends of the Chinese people" and praising Zardari's late wife, Benazir Bhutto, and her father, Ali Bhutto, for their "outstanding contributions to the opening and development of China-Pakistan relations."

Beijing - Russia on Tuesday formally returned to China half of an island that was seized in 1929 by troops of the former Soviet Union during a border skirmish.

Chinese and Russian diplomats and defence officials held a ceremony to unveil new boundary markerson Heixiazi (Bolshoi Ussuriysky) Island in a border river, the government said.

The two nations signed a final agreement in July on disputed areas along their 4,300-kilometre border, with Russia reportedly conceding 174 square kilometres, including two small islands in the river.