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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrives in Pakistan
Pakistan on Friday gave a red-carpet welcome to Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who arrived for a three-day visit aimed at enhancing trade and bilateral relations.
During his visit, the first by a Chinese premier in five years, the two countries were expected to sign more than a dozen trade agreements worth of billions of dollars.
Wen arrived from India where the two fast-growing economies put diplomatic differences aside and agreed to aim to nearly double their bilateral trade to 100 billion dollars annually by 2015.
As Wen's plane entered Pakistani air space, two JF-17 fighter planes, which Pakistan and China produce jointly, welcomed and escorted him to Islamabad.
A 21-gun salute boomed out as Wen stepped out of the plane before being welcomed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, several members of his cabinet, and chiefs of the armed forces.
China is a close ally and significant trade partner of Pakistan. Gilani said on Wednesday that Pakistan hoped its trade with China would double in the next five years to 15 billion dollars.
The Pakistani premier said his country would also request Chinese assistance in making the new deep-sea port of Gawadar operational. The port, in the southern province of Baluchistan, was built by Chinese companies.
Officials and businessmen from the two countries were due to sign various deals worth more than 20 billion dollars, Abdul Basit, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, was quoted as saying by Samaa television.
The leaders were also expected to discuss the construction of two new nuclear power plants by China. Agreement on one plant is scheduled to be signed during the visit, state television PTC reported.
China has already helped Pakistan to build two nuclear power plants at Chashma in the central province of Punjab. One of these is in operation while the second is near completion.
The nuclear cooperation between the two countries has increased despite reservations from the United States which regard Pakistan's nuclear programme a proliferation risk.
The Chinese premier is also to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, address the national parliament and inaugurate a Pak-China Friendship Centre.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/358635,chinese-premier-arrives-pakistan.html
Pakistan on Friday gave a red-carpet welcome to Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who arrived for a three-day visit aimed at enhancing trade and bilateral relations.
During his visit, the first by a Chinese premier in five years, the two countries were expected to sign more than a dozen trade agreements worth of billions of dollars.
Wen arrived from India where the two fast-growing economies put diplomatic differences aside and agreed to aim to nearly double their bilateral trade to 100 billion dollars annually by 2015.
As Wen's plane entered Pakistani air space, two JF-17 fighter planes, which Pakistan and China produce jointly, welcomed and escorted him to Islamabad.
A 21-gun salute boomed out as Wen stepped out of the plane before being welcomed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, several members of his cabinet, and chiefs of the armed forces.
China is a close ally and significant trade partner of Pakistan. Gilani said on Wednesday that Pakistan hoped its trade with China would double in the next five years to 15 billion dollars.
The Pakistani premier said his country would also request Chinese assistance in making the new deep-sea port of Gawadar operational. The port, in the southern province of Baluchistan, was built by Chinese companies.
Officials and businessmen from the two countries were due to sign various deals worth more than 20 billion dollars, Abdul Basit, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, was quoted as saying by Samaa television.
The leaders were also expected to discuss the construction of two new nuclear power plants by China. Agreement on one plant is scheduled to be signed during the visit, state television PTC reported.
China has already helped Pakistan to build two nuclear power plants at Chashma in the central province of Punjab. One of these is in operation while the second is near completion.
The nuclear cooperation between the two countries has increased despite reservations from the United States which regard Pakistan's nuclear programme a proliferation risk.
The Chinese premier is also to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, address the national parliament and inaugurate a Pak-China Friendship Centre.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/358635,chinese-premier-arrives-pakistan.html
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