ISLAMABAD/BEIJING, 16 December 2004 — Pakistan and China signed a series of agreements yesterday on everything from agriculture to aid as they sought to deepen economic and trade ties during a visit by Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
After a meeting between Aziz and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, delegates from both sides signed a series of agreements on projects including a nuclear power plant China agreed in May to help build and cooperate in agro-based industries.
China has agreed to provide $500 million to be spent on development projects in Pakistan. China will continue to work on Saindak project as Pakistan expressed its willingness to extend the lease of Saindak mines in Balochistan to China for 20 more years.
“Pakistan has been fully ready for the complete opening to the outside and will not create any obstacle for foreign investment,” the official Xinhua news agency quoted Aziz as saying during the meeting with Wen.
“The Pakistan government is considering establishing duty-free zones nationwide to attract more foreign investment.”
There were no details about the seven agreements signed, most of which appeared aimed at expanding trade cooperation.
In May, Pakistan signed a deal to build a 300-megawatt nuclear power plant worth $874 million, with help from China.
