Islamabad:
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's visit to Pakistan drew to a close on Sunday with a special address to Pakistan's government during a joint session of parliament ahead of his departure.
Speaking in parliament Wen promised to stand by Pakistan and the international community in fighting extremism in the country.
The threat posed by Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters in Pakistan is a growing concern for China given that the countries' share a common border.
Wen said Pakistan's sacrifices in the global fight against extremism should also be recognised and respected by the international community.
He said the fight should not focus on specific religions, but rather on eradicating the "root factors" breeding militant activity.
Pakistan's tribal regions are home to thousands of militants staging or supporting attacks both at home and on American troops in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Wen also said relations between the two nations would "be doubtlessly firmer, closer and stronger."
The Chinese premier departed later on Sunday from Chaklala military airbase in Islamabad.
During Wen's trip - the first by a Chinese premier in five years - he met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Pakistan and China signed nearly two dozen private sector deals worth (b) billions on Saturday, the second day of the rare visit by Wen.
Including government deals inked on Friday, the two sides have agreed to 35 new pacts expected to bring up to 30 (b) billion US dollars of investment to Pakistan over the next five years, Islamabad said.
China is Pakistan's closest friend in Asia, giving Islamabad military aid and technical assistance, including nuclear technology.
Crucially, most Pakistanis view China as an ally that, unlike Washington, doesn't make demands for its assistance.
But Beijing is hardly left empty-handed from its ties with Pakistan, which serves as a close, cheap source of natural resources to fuel its growing economy.
The two countries hailed their ties during a business leaders' summit, during which many of the deals were signed.
They agreed to widen the Karakoram Highway to enhance trade and communications, the Pakistani government said.
China also pledged additional support in the energy sector, where Pakistan faces major shortages.
In addition, China has agreed to a 229 (m) million US dollars donation to help Pakistan rebuild after this year's devastating floods.
Pakistan is desperate for foreign investment to help create jobs for its 175 (m) million people.
While its bilateral trade with China is up from 1 (b) billion US dollars in 2000 to some 7 (b) billion US dollars now, much of the new trade consists of cheap Chinese imports into Pakistan, officials said. Islamabad hopes to do more to balance that.
Pakistan has stressed it is supremely confident in its relationship with China, even as China improves its ties with India, Pakistan's archrival.
Wen also discussed defence issues on Saturday with top officers of the Pakistani military, including army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Wen's visit to Pakistan follows a visit to New Delhi.
Speaking in parliament Wen promised to stand by Pakistan and the international community in fighting extremism in the country.
The threat posed by Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters in Pakistan is a growing concern for China given that the countries' share a common border.
Wen said Pakistan's sacrifices in the global fight against extremism should also be recognised and respected by the international community.
He said the fight should not focus on specific religions, but rather on eradicating the "root factors" breeding militant activity.
Pakistan's tribal regions are home to thousands of militants staging or supporting attacks both at home and on American troops in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Wen also said relations between the two nations would "be doubtlessly firmer, closer and stronger."
The Chinese premier departed later on Sunday from Chaklala military airbase in Islamabad.
During Wen's trip - the first by a Chinese premier in five years - he met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Pakistan and China signed nearly two dozen private sector deals worth (b) billions on Saturday, the second day of the rare visit by Wen.
Including government deals inked on Friday, the two sides have agreed to 35 new pacts expected to bring up to 30 (b) billion US dollars of investment to Pakistan over the next five years, Islamabad said.
China is Pakistan's closest friend in Asia, giving Islamabad military aid and technical assistance, including nuclear technology.
Crucially, most Pakistanis view China as an ally that, unlike Washington, doesn't make demands for its assistance.
But Beijing is hardly left empty-handed from its ties with Pakistan, which serves as a close, cheap source of natural resources to fuel its growing economy.
The two countries hailed their ties during a business leaders' summit, during which many of the deals were signed.
They agreed to widen the Karakoram Highway to enhance trade and communications, the Pakistani government said.
China also pledged additional support in the energy sector, where Pakistan faces major shortages.
In addition, China has agreed to a 229 (m) million US dollars donation to help Pakistan rebuild after this year's devastating floods.
Pakistan is desperate for foreign investment to help create jobs for its 175 (m) million people.
While its bilateral trade with China is up from 1 (b) billion US dollars in 2000 to some 7 (b) billion US dollars now, much of the new trade consists of cheap Chinese imports into Pakistan, officials said. Islamabad hopes to do more to balance that.
Pakistan has stressed it is supremely confident in its relationship with China, even as China improves its ties with India, Pakistan's archrival.
Wen also discussed defence issues on Saturday with top officers of the Pakistani military, including army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Wen's visit to Pakistan follows a visit to New Delhi.
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