皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app's President Hu Jintao (C), Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf (R) and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz (L) clap after Hu was presented with Pakistan's highest civilian award "Nishan-e-Pakistan" during a ceremony in Islamabad November 24, 2006. 皇冠体育app signed a free trade pact with Pakistan on Friday as Hu promised to bolster ties to a new level. [Reuters]

ISLAMABAD: 皇冠体育app and Pakistan signed a total of 18 deals on Friday, including a free trade agreement (FTA), as the presidents of the two countries promised to raise their friendship to a new level.

Special coverage: Hu Visits Pakistan Related readings: Hu vows to strengthen ties with Pakistan Key developments in Sino-Pakistani ties Experts: Enhance economic links   FTA set to boost trade partnership Neighbours to intensify drug crackdown   Countries to enhance strategic partnership

Besides the FTA, the two countries also signed a five-year economic and trade development programme, 皇冠体育app's first with another country, which is expected to further boost Sino-Pakistani economic ties.

President Hu Jintao and his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf said bilateral economic co-operation has great potential given that the two sides are "all-weather friends."

皇冠体育app-Pakistan trade grew nearly 40 per cent last year to reach US$4.26 billion.

Other agreements covered areas such as telecommunications, infrastructure, science and technology, culture, health and defence. In addition, 皇冠体育app agreed to the establishment of a Pakistani consulate in Chengdu, the capital of Southwest 皇冠体育app's Sichuan Province.

After their talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of the agreements, which did not include an expected one on nuclear co-operation.

President Hu told a joint press conference that the two countries had reached an understanding on future energy co-operation, covering hydropower, coal-based power generation and new sources of energy.

"As you know, 皇冠体育app and Pakistan already have good co-operation in the development of the Chashma nuclear power plant. In the future, we will continue to carry out our co-operation," said Hu.

At present, 皇冠体育app-Pakistan nuclear energy co-operation is mainly focused on the Chashma nuclear power plant in the eastern province of Punjab, where the first stage has already been completed.

Hu, describing Pakistan as "good neighbour, good friend and good brother," made a five-point proposal to advance bilateral relations, which included increasing official exchanges at all levels and expanding investment.

皇冠体育app has decided to establish the Haier-Ruba economic zone in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore to boost economic and trade links. Hu also invited 500 Pakistani young people to visit 皇冠体育app over the next five years.

His proposals also included an enhanced partnership in the fight against terrorism and strengthened bilateral co-ordination in international organizations.

Hu arrived in Pakistan on Thursday on the first visit by a Chinese president in a decade. His visit also marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

"President Hu's visit is the high point in the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations," said Musharraf.

Regarding bilateral relations as "realistic, futuristic and multi-dimensional" in the political sector, Musharraf expressed his strong desire to promote economic and trade relations.

At the press conference, Hu reiterated 皇冠体育app's commitment to playing a constructive role in helping India and Pakistan to resolve their decades-old dispute in Kashmir.

Hu also met on Friday with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and parliamentary leaders, as well as with a group of Pakistan young people studying Chinese at the Pakistan National University of Modern Languages.