SHANGHAI, June 16: President Pervez Musharraf on Friday expressed the hope that the deal under which China would provide four frigates to Pakistan by 2,013 with transfer of technology would be successfully accomplished. During his visit to Hudong shipyard where the frigates will be built, he said that the F-22P frigate project would prove an outstanding symbol of ever-green Sino-Pakistan friendship.

The president, who was here to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, availed the opportunity to visit the shipyard.

He was given a briefing on different phases of construction of the frigates, and told that the first frigate would be ready for delivery in three years.

Three frigates, to be equipped with latest helicopter and missile systems, would be built at the Hudong shipyard and, later, four at the Karachi shipyard, he was told.

In his brief remarks about the project, President Musharraf said that he was satisfied with the progress of the project, adding that it would enrich Pakistan’s experience to build modern warships.

He was informed that the design of the frigates was being prepared according to specific Pakistani requirements.

This is the first major collaboration between the two navies.

The frigates would be up to the level of highly advanced international standard, said President of the shipyard, Zhou Jian Neng, while introducing main features of the project.

Earlier, Chinese Minister for Science, Industry and Defence Zhang Yunchuan met President Musharraf and discussed with him the progress on the on-going projects in the field of science and technology.

The president was accompanied by Federal Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani and others.—-APP