Updated on
Summary
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held one-on-one meeting on Friday and vowed to further strengthen their evergreen fraternal ties in diverse fields including trade, energy, technology. The two leaders who met at the Prime Minister House, besides discussing the ways and means on how to deepen the strategic bilateral relationship between Pakistan and China also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Premier Wen is in Pakistan on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. The two sides also discussed increased exchanges in education and culture and expressed desire to send more Pakistani students to China to study subjects like Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Advanced Chemistry and Physics. Prime Minister Gilani termed China as a trusted partner, very good neighbour and a close friend of Pakistan. The talks focussed on building a mutually beneficial economic partnership, besides developing wider cooperation on regional and international affairs. The Chinese Premier said China would expand pragmatic cooperation with Pakistan to bring about tangible benefits to the Pakistani people and increase Pakistans self-development capability. The two sides discussed ways to boost cooperation in agriculture, energy, finance and banking, and science and technology. The one-on-one meeting was followed by the delegation-level talks. During the delegation level talks, Prime Minister Gilani was assisted among others by Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Pakistans Ambassador to China Masood Khan and other senior officials.The Chinese Premiers entourage includes Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister of Communications Li Shenglin, Minister of Culture Cai Wu, Director of the Research Office of the State Council Xie Fuzhan, Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhu Zhixin, Vice Minister of Chinas Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and the MoC International Trade Representative Gao Hucheng, Vice Secretary-General of the State Council and Director of the Premiers Office Qiu Xiaoxiong and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue. Earlier, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday inaugurated the Pak-China Friendship Centre - an icon of their evergreen relationship and a platform for promotion of their mutual cultural ties. Chinese President at the occasion said that Pakistanis will get free treatment in Beijing Hospital. While PM Gilani appreciated the Chinese help for Pakistani people. The foundation of the Centre was also laid by the Chinese Premier Wen in April 2005.It is a gift from the Chinese government to the people of Pakistan and has been built at a cost of Rs 2.5 billion in 22 months.
