Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has arrived on his first visit to Pakistan after assuming office. It's a gesture of how important China's relations with Pakistan are. The visit is aimed at further deepening economic, political and strategic relations between the two countries

Premier Li's trip includes meetings with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and the soon-to-be Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Sharif is in favor of regional peace and cooperation and friendly relations with all neighboring countries, especially India. The timing of the visit is very important as China can facilitate the peace process between India and Pakistan.

The three countries need to realize that it is an age of interdependence and mutual cooperation.

If the regional countries will not cooperate among themselves, outside powers will exploit the differences among them, which will result in losses for all parties.

China, as the biggest and strongest of the three, holds a bigger responsibility to actually play its part in bringing the regional countries together.

Trilateral strategic relations are improving, but still there is much to do.

The US-backed rise of India and the strategic adventures in which New Delhi is getting involved raise some very serious questions for strategic analysts in Pakistan and in China.

It is obvious that if there is no understanding between the three nuclear-armed countries of the region on nuclear issues, any mishap could lead to disastrous consequences.

The other most important issue is Afghanistan and the withdrawal of foreign troops.

On the issue of Afghanistan, both Beijing and Islamabad are on the same page, as both want an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led solution and not any imposed resolution.

However, if the US decides to keep some of its troops inside Afghanistan after 2014, Pakistan and China need to develop a mutual strategy for the post-withdrawal situation.

Pakistan's relations with the US and Russia are another important point for discussion between Li and Zardari.

Pakistan is expanding its ties with regional and extra-regional countries and has a democratic government in place. New opportunities may emerge for Pakistan.

Pakistan is looking toward full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and is seeking support from China and Russia. Pakistan can provide its support to the two countries in the Organization of Islamic Countries.

Pending projects such as the rail link between Xinjiang and the port of Gwadar, the development of Gwadar, and the idea of developing it as an energy corridor are also important concerns for both sides.

Pakistan is looking forward to getting further cooperation from China on strategic issues, energy, economy, technology and agriculture.

Pakistan is focusing more on trade instead of aid, and it needs assistance from friendly countries such as China to promote trade ties.

There is a trade imbalance between the two countries. The political relations between the two countries should be supported by strong economic relations as well.

To further improve relations, leaders from both sides should also focus on promoting people-to-people contact and youth exchange programs.

Through student exchange programs, Pakistan-China friendship will be transferred to the new generation on both sides.

Pakistan should also initiate special scholarships in its universities for Chinese students, the way China is offering special scholarships for young people from Pakistani.

The meeting of leaders indicated the bilateral goodwill. It symbolizes the will of the leaders to continue cooperation and a friendly relationship with mutual respect and benefits.

The author is a research fellow at Islamabad Policy Research Institute. aftabhussein@hotmail.com