BEIJING (updated on: October 16, 2008, 03:35 PST): Pakistan and China on Wednesday signed eleven agreements, MoUs and protocols to enhance bilateral co-operation on sound footing in diverse sectors including infrastructure, energy, telecommunication, agriculture, industry, minerals, trade, disaster relief and space technology.
The signing ceremony held, at the Great Hall of the People here, was witnessed by President Asif Ali Zardari and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao after an hour long one-on-one interaction between the two leaders and two-hours long delegation level talks.
The two presidents will issue a joint statement (Thursday) reflecting their resolve and commitment to carry the bilateral relations and co-operation to new heights. President Hu Jintao hosted a banquet in honour of the President and his delegation at the Great Hall of the People after the delegations level parleys and agreements-signing ceremony.
Earlier both sides agreed to strengthen strategic partnership in all dimensions, reinvigorate the multi-faceted bilateral relations, intensify economic co-operation and foster people to people contacts in the coming years. The two leaders and their delegations had wide-ranging discussions in warm and friendly atmosphere characteristic of long-standing ties between the two countries, Pakistan's Ambassador in China Masood Khan told the media persons after the signing ceremony.
The talks emphasised upon retrieving the economic co-operation on strong footing in multi dimensions in line with the mutuality of interests and convergence of views in this regard. The importance of President's engagements on Wednesday is also marked by his threadbare interactions with the heads and chief executives of major Chinese companies operating in different sectors including banking, steel, mineral, cement, trade and other important segments of the economy.
The President' visit to China has a special significance not only as President Zardari's first official visit abroad, but also as the first interaction between Pakistan's newly elected democratic leadership and China's fourth Generation leadership that has overseen China's dramatic economic development and progress.
Meanwhile, heads and Chief Executives of major financial, industrial and investment institutions of China Wednesday called on President Asif Ali Zardari here at the State Guest House and showed keen interest for further investment in diverse fields in Pakistan.
Those who called on the President representing important Chinese institutions included China International Capital Corporation (CICC), Export and Import Bank of China (Exim Bank), Sinoma Group (Tianjin Cement and CMBC), MCC (Steel Construction Company), All China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and Industrial Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).
During the meetings, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik, Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi, foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Pakistan Ambassador in China Masood Khan and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
During the interaction with the President, the heads of Chinese institutions discussed the present level of Pak-China co-operation in different sectors, which is reflective of deep-rooted bilateral relations between the two countries.
They evinced keen interest and willingness in enhancing the existing level of co-operation in important sectors of the economy including infrastructure, banking and financial sector, agriculture, cement, steel and industry.
Talking to the Pakistani media the Chairman CICC, Levin Zhu described his interaction with the President very fruitful. He said Pak-China ties are of immense importance for the mutual advantages in different economic fields. As a financial institution, he said "we can help promote co-operation in the financial sector of Pakistan. He expressed confidence that existing co-operation will not only continue but will also grow in future.