China and Pakistan agreed on Monday to continue building cooperation against terrorism and to maintain their fight against the East Turkistan Islamic Movement as part of an upgraded, all-weather strategic partnership.

The security interests of China and Pakistan are closely linked, and the two countries are willing to actively engage in a security concept that advocates common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security in Asia, according to a joint declaration signed by the two governments in Islamabad, Pakistan, hours after President Xi Jinping arrived in the country for his first state visit.

China and Pakistan will strengthen their defense ties and cooperation against terrorism, and work closely on international and regional security affairs, in order to jointly safeguard common security interests between the two countries, the declaration said.