Islamabad:
The second day of the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's visit to Pakistan drew to a close on Saturday with a meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, followed by a state banquet in his honour.
Earlier on Saturday, Wen met Nawaz Sharif, former Pakistani prime minister and head of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N), the main opposition party in Pakistan.
In the morning, Wen and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had joined dozens of other officials from both countries in a dance-filled ceremony to inaugurate the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre, which is to be used for cultural exchanges, conferences and other displays.
Pakistan and China signed nearly two dozen private sector deals worth billions of US dollars on Saturday.
Including government deals inked on Friday, the two sides have agreed to 35 new agreements expected to bring up to 30 billion US dollars of investment to the country over the next five years, the Pakistani government said.
Wen also discussed defence issues on Saturday with top officers of the Pakistani military, including army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
The threat posed by Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters in Pakistan is a growing concern for China given that the countries share a common border.
China is Pakistan's closest friend in Asia, giving Islamabad military aid and technical assistance, including nuclear technology.
Crucially, most Pakistanis view China as an ally that, unlike Washington, doesn't make demands in exchange for its assistance.
But Beijing is hardly left empty-handed from its ties with Pakistan, which serves as a close, cheap source of natural resources to fuel its growing economy.
During Wen's trip, the first by a Chinese premier in five years, the two governments were expected to sign deals worth 14 (b) billion US dollars for 36 projects in Pakistan, while businesses in the two countries will agree to deals worth another 10 (b) billion US dollars, Pakistani Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said.
The 13 agreements signed on Friday included a 229 (m) million US dollar donation from China to help with reconstruction from the devastating floods Pakistan suffered earlier this year, as well as a 400 (m) million US dollar soft loan for Pakistan, he said.
Pakistan is desperate for foreign investment to help create jobs for its 175 (m) million people.
While its bilateral trade with China is up from 1 (b) billion US dollars in 2000 to some 7 (b) billion US dollars now, much of the new trade consists of cheap Chinese imports into Pakistan, officials said.
Islamabad hopes to do more to balance that.
Pakistan has stressed it is supremely confident in its relationship with China. This even as China improves its ties with India.
Wen's visit to Pakistan followed a visit to New Delhi.
On Sunday, Wen was scheduled to address a special joint session of parliament before his departure.
Earlier on Saturday, Wen met Nawaz Sharif, former Pakistani prime minister and head of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N), the main opposition party in Pakistan.
In the morning, Wen and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had joined dozens of other officials from both countries in a dance-filled ceremony to inaugurate the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre, which is to be used for cultural exchanges, conferences and other displays.
Pakistan and China signed nearly two dozen private sector deals worth billions of US dollars on Saturday.
Including government deals inked on Friday, the two sides have agreed to 35 new agreements expected to bring up to 30 billion US dollars of investment to the country over the next five years, the Pakistani government said.
Wen also discussed defence issues on Saturday with top officers of the Pakistani military, including army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
The threat posed by Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters in Pakistan is a growing concern for China given that the countries share a common border.
China is Pakistan's closest friend in Asia, giving Islamabad military aid and technical assistance, including nuclear technology.
Crucially, most Pakistanis view China as an ally that, unlike Washington, doesn't make demands in exchange for its assistance.
But Beijing is hardly left empty-handed from its ties with Pakistan, which serves as a close, cheap source of natural resources to fuel its growing economy.
During Wen's trip, the first by a Chinese premier in five years, the two governments were expected to sign deals worth 14 (b) billion US dollars for 36 projects in Pakistan, while businesses in the two countries will agree to deals worth another 10 (b) billion US dollars, Pakistani Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said.
The 13 agreements signed on Friday included a 229 (m) million US dollar donation from China to help with reconstruction from the devastating floods Pakistan suffered earlier this year, as well as a 400 (m) million US dollar soft loan for Pakistan, he said.
Pakistan is desperate for foreign investment to help create jobs for its 175 (m) million people.
While its bilateral trade with China is up from 1 (b) billion US dollars in 2000 to some 7 (b) billion US dollars now, much of the new trade consists of cheap Chinese imports into Pakistan, officials said.
Islamabad hopes to do more to balance that.
Pakistan has stressed it is supremely confident in its relationship with China. This even as China improves its ties with India.
Wen's visit to Pakistan followed a visit to New Delhi.
On Sunday, Wen was scheduled to address a special joint session of parliament before his departure.
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