Beijing:
China, on Thursday, hosted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Defence Minister AK Antony in a rare diplomatic tango.
As Mr Sharif and Mr Antony arrived in Beijing, the country's state-television projected it as a rare diplomatic event by China - which was hosting top leaders from both the countries - setting off a new phase of cordial ties with the two nations.
"Both India and Pakistan are very important countries in our neighbourhood," Wang Shida, a researcher with the China Institute of Contemporary Relations, told CCTV news.
"China-India have established strategic cooperative partnership since 2005. Meanwhile, China and Pakistan enjoyed an all-weather partnership for half a century.
"It means both India and Pakistan are important diplomatically to China. Premier Li Keqiang's visit to both the countries last month sets a very good example," he said.
Though their visits are a coincidence, Mr Sharif and Mr Antony are not expected to cross paths.
Mr Antony, who is the first Indian Defence Minister to visit China in seven years, is in Beijing on a four-day visit.
The recent border incursion by Chinese troops, finalisation of the Border Defence Coordination Agreement (BDSA) to maintain peace at the disputed borders as well as resumption of bilateral military exercises top Mr Antony's agenda for talks with the Chinese leadership.
The Pakistani Prime Minister, who arrived in Beijing on his first foreign visit after returning to power, met Chinese President Xi Jinping and sought assistance in energy, transport and infrastructure projects.
During his meeting, Mr Sharif spoke about the numerous challenges that Pakistan was faced with, including pulling the economy out from its current difficulties.