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President Zardari returns after five-day China visit
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Islamabad Sunday morning at the conclusion of a five day visit to China during which he held talks with President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visited Pakistan and China pavilions at the Expo 2010 in Shanghai, addressed separately forums on Economic Development and Alternate Energy and touched base with provincial political leaders and leaders of corporate sector.The top level talks and meetings with business and energy leaders during the visit focused on joint economic projects, promoting regional connectivity, harnessing new sources of energy, militancy and terrorism, and measures for enhancing people to people contacts.
Briefing journalists Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that during the visit, the fifth undertaken by the President since he became the President, China pledged to provide 50 million yuan grant to Pakistan for new projects besides the two countries signing an agreement on economic and technical cooperation and four MoUs that were also witnessed by the two Presidents.
The MoUs signed were in fields of health, geological survey, and agriculture.
Instruments of ratification were also exchanged as a follow up of the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and a Memorandum of Understanding of cooperation between Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and China Radio International for Urdu service broadcasts in selected Pakistani cities on FM channel was also signed, he said.The two sides also decided to urgently convene a meeting of the Pak-China Joint Economic Forum in Islamabad for taking decisions on a host of issues including currency swap, opening of branches of Chinese banks in Pakistan and relocating industries in the special proposed industrial zones in Pakistan. The Chinese Commerce Minister will lead his country’s delegation at the talks.
In response to Pakistan’s quest for new energy sources it was agreed that the China National Energy Administration will work out with Pakistani authorities modalities of tackling Pakistan’s energy needs.
Special committees will be set up in both the countries to celebrate in a befitting manner the 60th anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic relations next year.
Connectivity projects including the 500 million dollars Karakorum Highway upgradation project and the National Trade Corridor (NTC) were also discussed with the two sides agreeing to modernize the trade, transportation and logistics system in the country for enhanced regional connectivity, he said.
During the visit President Zardari also held separate meetings with Chinese Ministers for Water Resources and Agriculture reviewing progress on the hybrid seed and sprinkler irrigation projects.The Chinese leadership directed Foreign Ministry to take steps for the exchange of youth delegations, cultural and writers’ delegations between the two countries and also increasing scholarships for young Pakistanis for studies in China.
President Hu Jintao promised “steady progress in cooperation with Pakistan in energy, telecom sectors, Neelum Jhelum project and Pakistan telecommunication satellite project”.
Appreciating Pakistan’s policy of one China the Chinese leadership assured President Zardari of continued support to Pakistan at the UN and at multilateral forums including SAARC and ECO and unflinching support to its fight against militancy. China has supported Pakistan’s full membership of the SCO.
Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Petroleum Minister Naveed Qamar, Minister of State for Water Resources Kamal Majidullah, Deputy Chairman Planning commission, Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Secretary General to President Salman Farooqui, Secretary Foreign Affairs Salman Bashir, Ambassador at large Khalil Ahmad Khan, Chairman WAPDA Shakil Durrani, Chairman NHA Chaudhry Altaf Ahmad, Additional Secretary Foreign Office Khalid Masood were members of the entourage.
Courtesy www.Geo.tv