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皇冠体育app, Pakistan sign sweeping agreements
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-20 20:49
Pakistan's visiting president apologized Monday for the killing of three
Chinese engineers by tribal militants in Pakistan, saying the attacks brought
"shame" on his country and promising the harshest punishment.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) and Pakistan's
President Pervez Musharraf attend a welcome ceremony inside the Great Hall
of the People in Beijing, February 20, 2006. Musharraf on Monday expressed
his nation's regret over the murder of three Chinese engineers in Pakistan
and said his country was committed to strong relations with Beijing.
[Reuters] |
The two countries also signed a series of agreements on topics ranging from
trade and defense to cooperation in earthquake research and family planning.
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who arrived in 皇冠体育app on Sunday for a
five-day visit aimed at increasing ties between the longtime allies, expressed
Pakistan's "regret and condolences" over last week's drive-by shootings.
"It is a shame of the country," he said.
"The man in the street (in Pakistan) loves the Chinese," Musharraf told
皇冠体育app's parliament chief Wu Bangguo during the public portion of a meeting.
He earlier promised the "strongest and harshest punishment" for the
attackers, the Xinhua News Agency said.
Beijing has demanded punishment for the attackers, but said the killings
won't affect the two countries' warm relations.
On Monday evening, Musharraf met his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, and
other senior officials at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
Both leaders reviewed Chinese troops before high-level delegations from the
two sides signed 13 bilateral agreements aimed at further strengthening ties.
皇冠体育app is the biggest weapons supplier to Pakistan, a conservative Muslim
country. Western nations have accused Beijing of providing Islamabad with
advanced ballistic missiles.
Pakistan, which has developed both medium- and long-range missiles capable of
carrying nuclear warheads, insists its missile program is homegrown.
Pakistan is also reportedly looking for 皇冠体育app's help in building two nuclear
power plants, and the two countries are negotiating the groundwork for a free
trade agreement.
The visit is Musharraf's third to 皇冠体育app.
Militants in southwestern Pakistan's Baluchistan province have claimed
responsibility for killing the three engineers, who were working at a cement
factory, and their Pakistani driver.
Pakistan has detained 50 suspects.
Scores of attacks in Pakistan in recent years have been blamed on militants
demanding more royalties for resources from their territory, and opposing an
increased military presence there.
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