Pakistani president returns after five-day China visit

The Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Islamabad Sunday after wrapping up a five-day working visit to China, reported local media Geo News.

During his stay, the Pakistani president held talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao and Chinese Premir Wen Jiabao among other top Chinese officials.

Briefing journalists, Spokesperson to the president Farhatullah Babar said that during the visit, the fifth undertaken by Zardari since he became the President, China pledged to provide 50- million-yuan grant (7.4 million U.S. dollars) to Pakistan for new projects apart from an agreement on economic and technical cooperation signed between the two countries and four MOUs inked in fields of health, geological survey, and agriculture.

According to the spokesman, 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, said the spokesman.

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, the spokesman said.

Source:Xinhua