This was stated by the Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Trade, Mr Lin Hai-yun, while addressing Pakistani businessmen and industrialists at a reception held by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Karachi yesterday.

Mr Lin Hai-yun, leader of the seven-man Chinese trade mission, said that the delegation would like to enter into a contract immediately for the purchase of Pakistani cotton. The contract, he added, would be in addition to the trade agreement which China is eager to have with Pakistan.

He expressed confidence that China and Pakistan, through joint efforts made in a friendly way, could expand trade to each other’s benefit.

The trade trends during the past decade, in Mr Lin’s view, were such that they formed a “good basis” for the promoting of trade between the two neighbourly countries. There were “vast prospects” for the development of trade which China and Pakistan could exploit to their natural advantage, he said. The Chinese leader paid tributes to the people of Pakistan for their great efforts to build the country on sound economic footing. — Staff Correspondent

Suhrawardy suffering from heart strain KARACHI: The former Awami League chief and NDF leader, Mr H.S. Suhrawardy, is suffering from “heart strain” and has been advised to remain in bed for three weeks.

Dr A.M. Kassim, heart specialist at the Jinnah Hospital who is attending on Mr Suhrawardy, said that Mr Suhrawardy was improving “satisfactorily”.

Mr Suhrawardy’s secretary said that Mr Suhrawardy was “taken ill while he was playing host to a large and distinguished gathering at a party thrown by him in a city restaurant”.

Mr Suhrawardy was admitted to the Jinnah Hospital yesterday morning. He was to address members of the Karachi Bar Association yesterday.— Agencies