Pakistan-China agree to sign 13 accords to strengthen multiple cooperation

Pakistan and China ink 13 accords, MOUs

Pakistan and China signed 13 agreements and Memorandums of Under-standing (MoUs) on Monday to further boost socio-economic, trade and defence ties.

Read More: $2.2bn MoUs signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia

The agreements were signed after formal talks between President General Pervez Musharraf and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao. Both leaders also attended the signing ceremony.

Multiple Sector Accords: Pakistan-China agree to sign 13 accords

The agreements include the cooperation in the fields of energy, health, communication, pesticides, earthquake and meteorological studies. Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar and his Chinese counterpart signed the framework agreement on expanding and deepening economic and trade relations.

Defence Production Minister Habibullah Warriah and his Chinese counterpart signed the framework agreement on cooperation in defence fields.

Minister of State for Privatisation and Investment Umer Ghumman inked the framework agreement to augment cooperation in energy.

MoU on cooperation between Pakistan and China in upgradation of Karakoram Highway was signed.

Under two more MoUs, the two sides would cooperate in earthquake and meteorological studies. Two more MoUs were signed in the fields of health and family planning.

Pakistan-China agree to sign 13 accords

The two sides also signed three agreements regarding cooperation in the fields of educational training, pesticides management, and fisheries. According to another MoU, Pakistan and China would undertake together a five-year programme for promoting bilateral trade and economic cooperation. A general loan agreement was also signed about utilization of preferential buyers’ credit.

Minister for Defence Production, Habibullah Warriah, Information Minister Rashid Ahmed. Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar, Minister for Shipping and Ports Babar Ghauri, Minister of state for Investment and Privatisation Omer Ghumman and Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Akram Sheikh and Secretary Economic Affairs Division were also present at the signing ceremony.

Even earlier, President Musharraf met the Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in tête-à-tête at the Great Hall of the People that was originally scheduled for 30 minutes but lasted for about an hour before they were joined by their respective delegations.

Leaders committed themselves to strengthen and further enrich strategic partnership through deeper cooperation in the political, diplomatic, and economic fields. He was supportive of the peace dialogue initiated by Pakistan and India for a negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

“We have an in-depth exchange of ideas on a number of issues and I am very interested in further pursuing our discussions that will cover bilateral relations and questions of shared interests,” said President Hu Jintao in his opening remarks at the beginning of the formal talks. The talks called for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute said President Hu Jintao at the talks.

“China welcomes Pakistan and India to improve their relations through (dialogue) and to negotiate in settling all their outstanding issues, including Kashmir,” Chinese Foreign Office Spokesman Gin Gang quoted the Chinese leader as saying.

The Chinese leader, describing President Musharraf as an old friend of the Chinese people for “many, many years,” appreciated his efforts for the development of Pakistan-China friendship.

“President Musharraf has made important contribution to the development of our relations,” he added. Responding to the cordiality demonstrated by the Chinese leader, President Musharraf said the people of Pakistan have deep affection and love for the Chinese people and are proud of their time-tested ties.

He thanked the Chinese government and its people, on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan, for their support for relief and reconstruction work after the earthquake.

He apprised the Chinese leader of the initiative by the government of Pakistan towards bringing peace and stability in the region with a view to resolving all disputes with India including Kashmir amicably.

President Musharraf underlined the need for the two countries to make more efforts for the upgrading of the level of their economic and trade co-operation to make it compatible with their excellent political and diplomatic relations.

He said both sides need to fully implement the Early Harvest Programme and push forward the ongoing negotiations for an early conclusion of Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

President Musharraf said Pakistan wants to extend further co-operation with China in trade and economic fields, especially in the fields of infrastructure and energy.

He also condemned the recent murder of Chinese engineers in the strongest words, saying that the government of Pakistan regretted this incident, and every Pakistani regrets it. “We have a resolve to get to the depth of the issue and bring all the culprits to book,” he assured the Chinese president.

Musharraf said this was an act of a few who did not want ‘to see development and progress in Pakistan and the increasing co-operation between two countries.

The two sides covered the entire spectrum of their bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual concern.

They expressed shared perceptions on major issues and agreed to continue co-operation for UN reforms to make it more effective and representative body.

The two sides agreed to co-operate with each other and continue mutual support and co-operation in international and regional affairs. They agreed to continue their mutual co-operation in the efforts geared toward countering terrorism through dialogue and regular communication at different levels.

On the bilateral side, the two leaders agreed on a more pronounced focus on economic relations. Here, they have seen significant improvement but still not adequately representing the political and diplomatic closeness. Their satisfaction in completion of 55 years of their diplomatic relations in which the two traditional allies stood by each other in the hour of need was proudly acknowledged.

Chinese Spokesman Qin Gang termed the talks between the two heads of state as “highly successful” and said they reached a broad consensus on a number of issues of bilateral interest.

Governor of China Development Bank (CDB) Chen Yuan on Monday called on President Pervez Musharraf and offered to extend more funds for undertaking major infrastructure projects in Pakistan.

The CDB would “generously” provide financing for projects in sectors like energy, construction of dams and roads, upgradation of Karakoram Highway, oil and gas exploration, moderation of railways and urban development, the Chinese governor told the president.

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