Hu talks with Musharraf
Nov 24, 2006 - 6:06:24 PM
, Reviewed by: Priya Saxena
|
|
|
Before he leaves Pakistan Sunday, Hu will also travel to Lahore, Pakistan's cultural centre.
|
By DPA,
[RxPG] Islamabad, Nov 24 - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf met Chinese President Hu Jintao here and the sides are due to sign a major package of trade, military and cultural agreements.
Hu, who arrived here from India on a four-day visit Thursday, is expected to reassure Musharraf that Beijing values its long-standing ties with Islamabad despite emerging partnership with New Delhi in trade and nuclear technology.
China and Pakistan are 'good neighbours, close friends, trusted partners and dear brothers', Hu said ahead of the talks.
Pakistan and China also have a long-standing agreement on nuclear cooperation. China is a main supplier of conventional weapons to the Pakistani armed forces.
After unveiling broad plans with the Indian leadership this week to promote bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation and double trade to $40 billion by 2010, Hu stressed that China did not seek any 'selfish gains' in South Asia and was ready to facilitate peace between India and Pakistan.
At a reception Thursday evening, Musharraf hailed Pakistan's close links with China as a 'shining example of good neighbourly relations'.
The president also reaffirmed his country's commitment to defusing tensions with India and ushering in a 'new era of peace and prosperity for South Asia'.
A raft of documents is due to be signed in Islamabad, including a free trade pact and a Chinese investment package worth up to $5 billion. While bilateral trade totals only about $4 billion a year, the accords are hoped to boost the figure to around $15 billion over five years.
Before he leaves Pakistan Sunday, Hu will also travel to Lahore, Pakistan's cultural centre.
But security concerns will prevent a planned visit to Gwadar in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province where a strategic port is being built with Chinese assistance.
|
Subscribe to India Newsletter
|
|
E-mail Address:
|
|
Feedback
|
For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send
any medical news or health news press releases, use
feedback form
|
Top of Page
|
