| Hu hails Chinese infrastructure projects in Pakistan |
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| Wednesday,October 14,2009 Posted: 12:47 BJT(0447 GMT) |
| From:Business Recorder Article type:Reproduced |
BEIJING (October 14 2009): Chinese President Hu Jintao praised his country's infrastructure projects in Pakistan on Tuesday, as he and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani reaffirmed the traditional close friendship between the two nations. Hu said China wanted to "join hands with Pakistan to further enhance mutual trust at strategic level" and "deepen co-operation in all dimensions," the official Xinhua news agency reported.
"We are glad to witness the smooth progress of a number of major co-operative projects under the joint efforts of both sides, such as the Neelum-Jhelum hydro-electric project and the Karakorum Highway (KKH) upgrading project," Hu was quoted as telling Gilani. A free-trade agreement on services, signed earlier this year, "opened up broad prospect for bilateral trade and economic co-operation," he said.
Pakistan and China "always shared mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual support and mutual assistance no matter how the international situation and their domestic conditions changed," Hu was quoted as saying. Hu praised the "consistent effort to uphold China-Pakistan friendship" by Gilani, who is making his first visit to China since becoming prime minister in March.
"I appreciate your comment that no matter how the international situation has changed, the people of China and Pakistan are always joined in hearts and hands," Hu was quoted as saying. Gilani also met Chinese officials in charge of overseas investment, coal mining and water conservation on Tuesday, the second day of his four-day visit, the agency said. He was also scheduled to meet Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese leaders, and to observe Wednesday's meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, a Central Asian security grouping.
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Bilateral Visits
