*BEIJING: China on Monday reassured Pakistan that relations between the twocountries were as firm as ever and would “never rust”, ahead of a meetingthis week between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi that could unnerve Islamabad.*

China and Pakistan like to call each other “all weather friends” and theirtraditional close ties have long been viewed with suspicion by Pakistan’sneighbor and traditional enemy, India.

But Modi has tried to reset relations with Beijing after a years ofdisagreements over everything from their border to exiled Tibetan spiritualleader the Dalai Lama, and will hold an informal summit with Xi on Fridayand Saturday in China.

China will continue to firmly support Pakistan, its top diplomat, StateCouncillor Wang Yi, told Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif at ameeting in Beijing.

“We are ready to work together with our Pakistani brothers to undertake thehistorical mission of national rejuvenation and achieve the great dream ofnational prosperity and development,” Wang said.

“In this way, our iron friendship with Pakistan will never rust and betempered into steel.”

There was no mention of the Xi-Modi meeting in comments made in front ofreporters.