KARACHI, Nov 22: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Chinese President Hu Jintao’s four-day visit to Pakistan, beginning Thursday, has great strategic significance as the two countries are expected to take a quantum leap forward in bilateral cooperation by entering into several agreements.

Talking to reporters during his visit to Ideas 2006 at Expo Centre on Wednesday, he referred to ‘all-weather tested historic relationship’ with China and said these ties would be deepened with President Hu’s visit.

Pakistan is expected to sign agreements for construction of nuclear power plants, regarding Gwadar Port, construction of frigates and JF-17 Thunder fighter plane, etc.

Besides, the prime minister expressed the hope that relations with India would also improve and the Kashmir issue would be resolved through dialogue.

He said that both sides should demonstrate flexibility to resolve the outstanding issues, including Kashmir, and added that this was the only way to restore lasting peace in the region.

He said the Ideas 2006 exhibition showed that Pakistan had significant engineering, design and metal fabrication capability.