BEIJING, Dec 20: Seven agreements were signed here on Thursday, on the first day of President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s five-day state visit, which will promote economy, science and technology in Pakistan.
Both the presidents, along with their delegations, witnessed the signing of accords.
The first agreement regarding Chinese grant assistance to Pakistan, was signed by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Chinese minister for foreign and economic cooperation.
The second agreement on concessional loan for the implementation of Saindak project was signed by Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Usman Aminuddin and the natural resources minister of China.
The third agreement regarding joint revolving fund for research and development in the field of science and technology was signed by Pakistan Ambassador to China Riaz Khokhar and the chief of China Bank.
The other agreements regarding extension of 500 kv Muzaffargarh and Ghatti transmission lines and Jinnah hydropower project were signed by the Pakistan ambassador to China and concerned officials of the Chinese government.
Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz later told newsmen: “The Chinese government has extended a $ 100 million grant to Pakistan for various projects. Then there is $ 200 million of concessional financing. In addition, there are several projects totalling $ 260 million , for which they are financing. These include a hydelpower stations, sub-stations for Wapda and transmission lines.”
In addition, Mr Aziz said, China had given Pakistan, over the years, very crucial balance of payments support, which was renewed every year. Now the Chinese government had said that it would renew it for the medium term. This was a really welcome gesture for Pakistan, he said, adding that China had appreciated the economic reforms Pakistan had undertaken and it wanted to support Pakistan’s efforts by extending the maturities of balance of payments support to medium term. All the previous renewals were short term. So this was a major change and Pakistan appreciate what China had done. This testified to the strong relationship between the two countries, he added.
IDENTICAL VIEWS: Major-General Rashid Qureshi, Press Secretary to the President, told the newsmen that “there was complete unanimity of views between the two sides.”
He said there were very very wide-ranging talks, covering all international and national topics of current value to Pakistan and China.
“ There has been total agreement and total convergence of views on all aspects of international, regional and national- level problems that are being viewed by both China and Pakistan,” he said.—APP