Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, April 20, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

ISLAMABAD - China and Pakistan, which have long viewed each other as "iron friends," upgraded their relations to all- weather strategic partnership of cooperation Monday, eyeing perpetual friendship from generation to generation.

The consensus was reached as visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who also agreed to constantly enrich the China-Pakistan community of shared destiny.

"China and Pakistan have always trusted, understood and supported each other, and are all-weather friends," said Xi, citing that the two countries helped evacuate each other's citizens from war-torn Yemen not long ago.

Xi arrived in Islamabad Monday for his first state visit to Pakistan, which is also the first stop of his first overseas visit this year.

"The Chinese side highly values its relationship with Pakistan, and has always placed the relationship on a priority position in its foreign policy agenda," Xi told Sharif during the talks.

Sharif said the Pakistani government and people have long anticipated Xi's visit.

"The Pakistan-China friendship is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy, and the Pakistani people treasure the brotherly relationship with China," he said.