Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf met Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Beijing on Friday in what political analysts said was a bid to shore up support from an old ally at a time of tension with India. Jiang broke away from an informal gathering of China's leaders thrashing out details of an impending leadership transition and Communist Party congress to meet Musharraf, making a 10-hour stopover in China en route to Islamabad from Colombo.

The meeting would be a chance for Musharraf, who has worked closely with the United States in Washington's war on terror following the September 11 attacks, to remind Jiang how important China is to Pakistan, analysts said.

"Musharraf will be seeking understanding or support from China," said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at People's University in Beijing.

"In this respect, I think there's plenty they can discuss," he said.

The Pakistani embassy and the Chinese Foreign Ministry declined to give details about the visit, Musharraf's third to China since December.

China has long been a key supplier of military equipment, aid and diplomatic support to Pakistan, which is locked in a tense standoff with nuclear-rival India over the disputed region of Kashmir.

But China has adopted an increasingly balanced approach towards South Asia, at least in public, and has improved relations with former foe India.

"The tendency is to give Pakistan the benefit of the doubt and lean in that direction, but I think they've been trying to be a bit more balanced in the way that they've spoken about what both sides need to do," said a Beijing-based diplomat.
India rules around 45 percent of Kashmir, Pakistan a third and China the rest.

DOMESTIC CONSIDERATIONS

At home, Musharraf faces growing opposition from Muslim hardliners for siding with the West in the war on terror. Restive politicians looking to push him towards democracy ahead of October elections are a further thorn in his side.

"Pakistan itself and the Chinese government are both very concerned with Pakistan's internal situation," Shi said.

"The Chinese government may want to discuss with Musharraf the best way to stabilise the internal situation," he added.

The timing of the visit, arranged at relatively short notice and taking the Pakistani leader thousands of kilometres out of his way, was a signal of the importance the two countries put on their relationship.

Analysts say China's senior leaders are preoccupied with domestic affairs at the beach resort of Beidaihe, some 200 km east of Beijing.

Visits by foreign dignitaries are not unheard of during the summer meetings, but they are fairly rare and therefore significant, analysts said.

"It's a strange time to come with the Beidaihe meetings going on," the diplomat said.

At the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing on Friday, Musharraf apologised to Jiang for disrupting his schedule.

"It's an honour to visit you and an added honour by amending, modifying your own programme to meet with me," Musharraf told Jiang.

PHOTO CAPTION

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf (L) is pictured with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Beijing on August 2. REUTERS/Guang N