BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- China and Pakistan on Thursday hailed their traditional friendship and pledged to promote their all-weather partnership to a higher level.

China and Pakistan are "good neighbors, friends, partners as well as brothers," Chinese President Xi Jinping said when conferring with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday in Beijing.

He said the all-weather strategic cooperation were treasures to both countries and the foundation for the future development of the bilateral relations.

The partnership with Pakistan is a priority in China's foreign policies, Xi told Sharif, calling on the two sides to step up the current cooperation to a higher level, and strengthen joint planning on the key bilateral projects in a bid to promote common development.

Xi also said Sharif, as a senior Pakistani statesman, is an old friend of China who has remained committed to promoting China-Pakistan friendship and generating significant contributions to bolster the bilateral ties.