On May 9, 2003, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing received a phone call from his Pakistani counterpart Mian Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri. Kasuri briefed him on the recent relaxation of the situation in South Asia. He said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and the government have always stood for dialogue and a peaceful settlement of disputes and Pakistan takes this attitude seriously. He said Pakistan hopes China will continue to work for the easing of the situation in South Asia.

Li said China supports the measures that Pakistan and India have taken to improve bilateral relations recently.  China hopes the two sides seize this opportunity and continue guiding the situation toward dialogue. China will continue to work to ease the situation in South Asia along with the international community.

The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on bilateral ties, the issues of Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula and Iraq and international cooperation on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).