ISLAMABAD, April 5: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday said the government was taking various measures to maintain high quality standards of agricultural products in order to enhance country’s export volume. He was talking to Chinese Minister for General Administration Li Changjiang, who called on him at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. The premier said: “Today is a very important and historical day for Pakistan as Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is visiting the country.”

Mr Aziz recalled his own visit to China and his talks with the Chinese prime minister and said it was a matter of great satisfaction that in a short span of few months, China and Pakistan would be signing 20 agreements for cooperation in various fields.

This, the prime minister said, would bring the two countries even more closer.

He said Pakistani people considered China their friend and the festive look which the city of Islamabad gave on Tuesday was the manifestation of love and affection that they had for China.

On the occasion, the Chinese minister informed the prime minister that he had held useful talks with Pakistani Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Bosan, and as a result they had not only signed agreements in the area of livestock but also explored the possibility of further cooperation between the two countries.

The prime minister said every ministry in his government had a special desk for China as Pakistan placed special emphasis on its relations with the neighbouring country.

He said Pakistan was the fifth largest producer of dairy products and, therefore, there was ample scope of cooperation between the two countries in the field of livestock and dairy development.

Mr Aziz said Pakistan produced a variety of fruits and was now focusing on maintaining international standards to encourage its exports in the agricultural sector. Pakistan produces one of the best oranges, especially Kino, and was looking forward to increasing its export, he added.