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Summary
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks at Prime Minister House to discuss range of issues to strengthen bilateral relations, Dunya news reported on Friday. The one-one-one meeting was followed by the delegation level talks. China and Pakistan signed nine agreements and four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). Apart from holding meetings with Mr. Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari, Mr. Wen was scheduled to address a special joint session of the Parliament on Sunday.Earlier when Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has arrived in Islamabad for a three-day official visit. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani along with his cabinet members and senior military and civil officials will welcomed him at Chaklala Airbase. Security of the capital has been put on high alert after Premier Jiabao's arrival. Police and Rangers have been deployed at the routes.As the airplane of Chinese Premier entered the Pakistani airspace, PAFs two JF-17 Thunders escorted his plane. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Federal Ministers and senior military and civil officials will greet Chinese Premier at the Chaklala Airbase. Guard of honour was also presented to Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jianao. The Chinese Premier will address the joint meeting of Parliament on Sunday. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will hold formal talks today, covering wide ranging topics of bilateral interest to expand decades old ever-green relationship, with greater focus on their growing economic partnership. The talks at Prime Minister House will be followed by signing of about 20 agreements and Memorandums of Understandings (MOUs) in areas of economy, energy and communication.The visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan targets to set the trade volume between the two friendly countries at US$ 15 billion by 2012.Under the 5 years Development Programme launched in 2006 for strengthening of economic relations, the existing trade is to be enhanced to $ 15 billion by 2012.More than 62 different projects have been identified under this programme for investment in various economic fields and are at different stages of completion.In the last few years, investment of more than $ 1.3 billion was made by China in Pakistan.Over 120 Chinese companies have invested in oil, gas, IT and telecom, power generation, engineering, automobiles, infrastructure and mining sectors of Pakistan.
