"The basic responsibility of any government is the security of the nation, progress and development, welfare and well-being of its people. Obviously this is being achieved (in China)," Musharraf said.

"I think China is a typical example of development and progress, the welfare and well-being of its people," he said.

Musharraf flew to Beijing yesterday from Hainan province where he met with President Hu Jintao and attended the Boao Forum for Asia. He will visit Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on the final stop of his China trip.

He said fighting terrorism, developing the economy and maintaining political stability are the priorities in his new term of presidency, adding that he is happy with the cooperation with China in the fight on terror.

"Fighting terrorism has more to do with acquisition of intelligence than with action. Action is easier than acquiring the knowledge and intelligence of where the terrorist is, who the terrorist is," he said.

The Pakistan president also called for strengthening communication infrastructure between China and Pakistan to bring the two neighbors closer on the economic map.

Musharraf suggested during his talks with Hu in Sanya that a railway along the Karakoram Highway linking Gwadar port with China be built.

Musharraf also proposed building an oil and gas pipeline to offer a short cut for China's energy supplies from the Gulf, which are now shipped along India and through the Malacca Straits.

"If we can supplement this (the Karakoram Highway) with a rail link, and also maybe an oil and gas pipeline link; and then you take the Central Asian republics with that, the whole area will open out through Pakistan to the rest of the world," he said.

"So my thoughts are that we should now be thinking bigger, beyond bilateral or the region."

(China Daily April 14, 2008)