YICHANG (China), Feb 22: Pakistan and China signed an agreement on Sunday for cooperation in the field of hydel-power generation.

Wapda chairman Shakeel Durrani and president of China’s Three Gorges Project Corporation Li Yong’an signed the agreement.

President Asif Ali Zardari attended the signing ceremony.

Under the agreement, China will extend technical assistance to Pakistan in hydel-power generation.

Earlier, Mr Li briefed President Zardari on salient features of the dam, the world’s largest with a capacity to generate 22,500 megawatts of electricity.

Later, President Zardari visited the dam and talking to reporters stressed the need for Pakistan to benefit from its relations with China and sought China’s help to build dams in Pakistan to meet its growing energy requirement.

“Pakistan has not benefited to the extent that it should have from its relations with China. We would like China to help us in the construction of a dam similar to this one,” he said.

“After having seen this dam, I think nothing is impossible to achieve. Let’s try and conceive such projects which can meet our future energy requirement,” he said.

The Three Gorges Hydropower Complex consists of a dam, a hydropower plant and shipping facilities.

Its reservoir submerged 632 square-kilometres of land and it took 17 years to complete. The dam meets over half of China’s electricity needs.

Earlier, President Zardari was taken to an exhibition hall where a 15-minute documentary was screened on the Three Gorges dam followed by a question-answer session.

Recording his impression the president said: “My visit to the unique Three Gorges dam is a memorable experience. This marvel of engineering reflects the Chinese people and the vision of their leadership.”—APP