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P.R. No.278/2006

Date: 29/08/2006

CHINESE DELEGATION CALL ON PRESIDENT

The President, General Pervez Musharraf, today received a high-level Chinese delegation led by Mr. Liu Yunshan, Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China.

Welcoming the delegation, the President recalled his visits to China in February and June this year in the context of the talks that he had with President Hu Jintao in order to expand and deepen the excellent bilateral relations. The President said that it was time to move towards bilateral cooperation on the broadest spectrum. Referring to the 55 th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China , the President noted that the two countries enjoyed excellent diplomatic relations and there was a convergence of views on international issues. He invited Chinese investment in the high-tech, heavy industry and energy sector. He also invited the Chinese to establish an Engineering, Science and Technology University in Pakistan . Referring to the communication links between the two countries, the President said that, along with the up-gradation of the Karakorum Highway , a railway link, a fibre optic link and an energy pipeline could be established.

Mr. Liu said that Chinese President Hu Jintao is looking forward to his visit to Pakistan in the future adding that friendship between the two countries was in the hearts and minds of the people. This all-weather friendship that had stood the test of time was in fact a paradigm of friendly collaboration between countries of different social set-ups. He expressed satisfaction at the cooperation of the two countries at the international level. He fully agreed with the President's vision, which he called “inspiring”, about the course of future cooperation and said that it would receive careful and positive examination by the Chinese side.

Mr. Liu Yunshan, accompanied by a 17-member delegation of the Communist Party of China, is visiting Pakistan from 28 August – 01 September 2006.

Islamabad

29 August 2006