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��Home>>Politics
China, Pakistan ink comprehensive deals
www.chinanews.cn 2006-02-21 08:54:46
(Source: Xinhuanet)
President Hu Jintao (R) and visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf
during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing
February 20.
BEIJING, Feb. 20 - China and Pakistan on Monday inked a series of
agreements on wide-ranging topics, a sign of stronger ties between the
two traditional allies.
The agreements, which ranged from trade and energy to agriculture and
defense, were signed after Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with
visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
Musharraf, who arrived here on Sunday for a five-day visit, on Monday
strongly condemned the terrorist killing of three Chinese engineers in
Pakistan last Wednesday, vowing to seize the culprits as soon as possible
and mete out harsh punishment on them.
Musharraf said earlier that Pakistan's friendship with China will "not be
affected by the incident."
In response, President Hu said that China "believes the Pakistani
government will severely punish the criminals and take concrete measures
to ensure the security of Chinese citizens and organizations in Pakistan."
In the two-hour meeting on Monday afternoon, Hu and Musharraf reviewed
the development of China-Pakistan ties, which Hu said are "all-weather"
and "time-tested."
The friendship serves as a" paradigm" of peaceful coexistence and sincere
cooperation between countries of different social systems and cultures,
Hu said.
Echoing Hu's view, Musharraf said the Pakistani government and people
take China as "a trustworthy neighbour and friend" and would like to
carry on the bilateral friendship and step up the strategic cooperation.
Musharraf's visit coincided with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties
between the two neighbors.
He will unveil a series of commemorative events in Beijing apart from
meeting other senior Chinese leaders, including China's top legislator Wu
Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao.
"These important exchanges of visits of the leaders of the two countries
have set the direction for further strengthening Pakistan-China relations
in the 21st century," Pakistani Ambassador to China Salman Bashir said
days ahead of Musharraf's China visit.
According to the bilateral deals reached on Monday, China and Pakistan
will step up collaboration on vocational training, pesticide cooperation
and fisheries.
The two countries will also work together on earthquake studies,
meteorological science and family planning.
President Hu suggested the two sides complete the ongoing projects and
expand collaboration in fields such as energy, transportation,
agriculture and infrastructure, which are all covered in Monday's
agreements.
The two sides also signed an agreement regarding the utilization of the
preferential buyer's credit.
Hu said he hoped the two sides could ratchet up the negotiation process,
so as to set up the China-Pakistan free trade area as soon as possible.
Moreover, Hu called for further cooperation on security and a joint
crackdown on the "three forces" plaguing both countries, namely
terrorism, separatism and extremism.
"The friendship between the two countries has matured into a
'comprehensive strategic partnership' for peace and development in the
past years," Bashir, the Pakistani ambassador, said.
Calling for better relations between Pakistan and India, Hu said China
would like to see the two countries resolve their disputes, such as the
Kashmir issue, through negotiations.
China is ready to develop friendly relations with all South Asian
countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, Hu said. "We hope
the South Asia region will maintain peace and stability and seek common
development."
Bashir said Musharraf's visit will "constitute another landmark in the
glorious history" of bilateral relations.
Musharraf will also visit Southwest China's Sichuan Province, the
hometown of giant pandas, before he wraps up the visit on Thursday.
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