Pakistan, China to bolster defence, energy, trade ties

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Pakistan, China to bolster defence, energy, trade ties
* Chinese president describes relations with Pakistan as ‘high priority’

SANYA: Vowing to enhance co-operation in defence, energy and trade, President Pervez Musharraf and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao hoped on Friday that these would be further strengthened as the new government comes into power in Pakistan.

President Hu Jintao described ties with Pakistan as a “high priority relationship”, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters after the meeting.

He said that the two leaders had discussed co-operation in nuclear energy. Both countries hoped to raise bilateral trade between them to $15 billion, he added.

During the meeting, Islamabad proposed that the two countries could improve connectivity by adding a fibre-optic line, an oil and gas pipeline and a rail track linking the Karakorum Highway to Gwadar.

Musharraf also extended Pakistan’s full support to China for the Beijing Olympics and assured Hu that the Olympic torch relay in Islamabad later this month would be held peaceably.

Following the formal talks, the two leaders witnessed signing of two memorandums of understanding (MoU) and an agreement, one of which seeks to extend co-operation in managing water resources and hydroelectric power.

Following the meeting, Hu hosted a dinner in honour of Musharraf and his entourage, which includes Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar. app

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

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Watch Pakistan come under even more pressure by "political movements" (terrorism) and watch for attempts to put a Pakistani "signature" on terrorists activity in China.

Some power centers in the West and in South Asia are in panic. This is unfortunate, Pakistan and China are more interested in creating better lives for their citizenry, unfortunately, some in the West and their new found "friends" in South Asia do not see advantage in such a development.

 

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China ready to assist Pakistan on trade, defence

BEIJING, April 15 (APP): China has expressed its full readiness to assist Pakistan for the development of energy, mineral and mining sectors, extend cooperation in financial sector and upgrade communication and transportation links.

A joint statement issued simultaneously from Beijing and Islamabad at the end of President Pervez Musharraf’s visit said “both sides agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation and enhance collaboration between their respective defence industries.”

The two countries also signed 10 Memoranda of Understanding in various sectors.

The communiqu’ stated the resolve expressed by China and Pakistan to optimally utilize the bilateral FTA and to complete the FTA on Trade and Services at the earliest.

“China expressed its full support for Pakistan’s efforts to preserve its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s important role in promoting peace, stability and security, and its contribution to counter terrorism.”

Both the sides expressed complete satisfaction on the development of comprehensive cooperation in all fields and agreed to further enhance their ties in economy, trade, science and technology, culture and people to people relations.

China also expressed its full support to the efforts of Pakistan to promote socio-economic development and expressed its full readiness to assist Pakistan for development of energy, mineral and mining sectors and extend support for projects under the Pakistan China Joint five year Economic and Trade Cooperation Plan.

The two sides also agreed to work together to achieve the trade target of US 15 billion dollars as early as possible.

Pakistan also reiterated its full support to the ‘One China’ policy and the return of Taiwan to its motherland. It also condemned and rejected the “three evil forces i.e. secessionism, separatism and terrorism.”

During the talks between President Pervez Musharraf and the Chinese leaders, both the sides exchanged views on regional and global issues and reached common understanding.

The two countries agreed to work together closely in global and regional forums to promote the cause of peace and development.

Pakistan warmly congratulated the Chinese leaders and people on their great national accomplishments and expressed its joy over the celebrations of the three decades of the policy of economic reforms and opening up.

Pakistan also expressed full appreciation for the excellent arrangements made by the government and the people of China for the holding of Beijing Olympics and expressed full cooperation and support to the Chinese government.

President Hu Jintao accepted an invitation extended by President Musharraf to visit Pakistan at his convenience.

During the State visit, President Musharraf held officials talks with President Hu Jintao in Sanya, met Chairman NPC Standing Committee Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and Chairman CPPCC Jia Qinglin in Beijing as well as the leadership of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Urumqi.

The President was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr Ata ur Rehman, Chairman Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Tariq Ikram and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Akram Sheikh.

Following are the Memoranda of Understanding signed between Pakistan and China:

1. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Water and Power of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China.

2. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Engineering and Technological Sciences between the Ministry of Science and Technology of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Chinese Academy of Engineering of the People’s Republic of China.

3.Agreement of Sports Cooperation between the ministry of Sports of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the General Administration of Sport of the People’s Republic of China.

4.Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China and Ministry of Finance of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

5. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation Architectural Design, Research and Constructions between Capital Development Authority (CDA). Islamabad. Pakistan and the Consortium of China Architecture Design & Research Group and Institute of Architecture Design and Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

6. Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the field of exchange of News Between Pakistan Television Corporation and China Central Television Network of the People’s Republic of China.

7. Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of Pakistan Culture and Communication Center at Tsinghua University.

8. Memorandum of Understanding on Economic and Trade Cooperation Between Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China and Ministry of Commerce of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

9. Memorandum of Understanding between Board of Investment of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and China Council for International Investment Promotion on cooperation in Investment.

10. Memorandum of Understanding on establishing relation of Friendship and Good Neighborly Cooperation between the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Associated Press Of Pakistan - China ready to assist Pakistan on trade, defence