BEIJING (Online) President Asif Ali Zardari has emphasised the need for establishing a railway line and also a pipeline from Gwadar to China to connect the two countries. In his separate meetings with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and Chairman of Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Jia Qinglin Thursday, President Zardari held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues with the two sides stressing unanimity of views on a host of issues and calling for further stepping up of economic cooperation and enhancing people-to-people contacts between the two countries. Briefing journalists, presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said the talks focused on joint economic projects promoting regional connectivity, militancy, terrorism and modalities for enhancing people-to-people contacts as an essential component of the strategic relationship between the two countries. Zardari said language was the most important means to promote people-to-people contacts and called for elaborate institutional arrangements for teaching Chinese and Urdu languages to the students, workers and peoples of Pakistan and China. In the long run this would be the most effective way to boost the existing relations, he added. About connectivity, the President said the blockade of Karakoram Highway recently due to landslide emphasised the need for establishing a railway line and also a pipeline from Gwadar to China to connect the two countries. Farhatullah said the two sides agreed a meeting of Pak-China Joint Economic Forum would soon be held in Islamabad to adopt measures to take to new heights the economic cooperation between the two countries. The joint forum will take up issues including that of currency swap, opening of branches of Chinese banks in Pakistan and relocating industries in the special proposed industrial zones in Pakistan. The Chinese commerce minister will lead his countrys delegation at the talks. It was also agreed that China National Energy Administration would hold discussions with Pakistani authorities on how best to tackle Pakistans energy needs. On Wednesday, President Zardari had impressed upon President Hu Jintao that Pakistan needed assistance in developing energy mix that included components of hydro, coal, thermal, wind, solar and nuclear power reactors to overcome the yawning gap between power supply and demand. The two sides also decided to celebrate in a befitting manner the 60th anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic relations next year and agreed to set up special committees in both the countries to develop plans for this purpose. Premier Jiabao said China appreciated Pakistans policy of one China and assured President Zardari of his countrys continued support to Pakistan at the UN and other multilateral forums including SAARC and ECO. China has supported Pakistans full membership of the SCO. Zardari said Pakistan wanted international help to cope with the challenges it was facing, adding that it wanted trade, not aid. He said access to international markets would help promote industrial activity in the country that would generate employment and help in turning away the unemployed youth from militancy. Zardari reiterated that trade relations between the two countries fell short of the potential and needed to be stepped up. He also said strengthening strategic and economic cooperation was a key element guiding Pakistans foreign policy towards China. The President also briefed the Chinese leaders on Pakistans fight against militancy and the political support for it in the country. Premier Wen said China deeply appreciated Pakistans fight against extremism and pledged his countrys unflinching support for it. The spokesperson said connectivity projects including $500 million KKH upgradation and the National Trade Corridor (NTC) also came under discussion. Over 800km-long KKH provides a trade and strategic link between Pakistan and China, and to Central Asia. China is assisting Pakistan for the improvement of 335km-long Khunjrab-Raikot section of the KKH that is expected to be completed in 2012. Pakistan is also implementing an NTC Programme to modernise the trade, transportation and logistics system in the country and to provide improved regional connectivity, he said. The meeting with the Chairman CPPCC Jia Qinglin took place at Great Hall of People while that with Premier Wen Jiabao was held at his office in Zhongnanhai. The meeting with PM Jiabao was followed by separate meetings with Chen Lei Minister for Water Resources and Han Changfu Minister for Agriculture at the state guesthouse. Earlier in the day, the President inaugurated photo exhibition at the Tsinghua University in Beijing which he described as an important element of soft power. Addressing the students and faculty on the occasion, the President said Moenjodaro was the cradle of human civilisation that was known as the 'Manhattan of the Bronze Age.