BEIJING, July 13 : Terming President Asif Ali Zardari’s just concluded 5-day official visit to China “as very successful”, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesmen said on Tuesday that it helped in promoting traditional friendship and boosted practical cooperation between the two countries.Spokesman Qing Gang at a regular press briefing said President Zardari paid a working visit to China from July 6-10.He said that during this visit President Hu Jintao held talks with him. Premier Wen Jiabao and CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin also met him.
“The two sides exchanged in-depth views on further developing China-Pakistan strategic partnership of cooperation”, he said and added that the “two sides agreed in consensus that the leaders of the two countries will maintain regular contacts and meetings.”
It was also agreed to deepen economic and trade cooperation, expand people-to-people exchanges and work with close cooperation for counter terrorism.
He said that during the visit, the two sides also signed economic and technical cooperation agreements.
It may be recalled that this was President’s Zardari 5th visit to China since assuming the office in 2008.
At the just concluded visit of President emphasis was laid on the new economic initiatives that have been launched recently, including building hydro dams, transfer of hybrid seed technology, expanding banking operations, roads and communication networks, cooperation in agriculture focusing on optimum utilization of irrigation water and development of new high yielding varieties of wheat and cotton, the proposed Thar Coal project and dredging of Tarbela reservoir.
The top level talks and meetings with business and energy leaders during the visit focused on joint economic projects, promoting regional connectivity, harnessing new sources of energy, counter  militancy and terrorism, and steps for enhancing people to people contacts.
The President’s quest for energy security for Pakistan was the driving force behind the Forum he addressed in Beijing.
When he landed at the Beijing airport the first thing he noticed was the solar panels on both sides of the highway leading to the city, said Ambassador Masood Khan.
He had desired that we must connect with the Chinese alternate energy industry and benefit from it.
The President also underlined the importance of the establishment of energy trade corridors to capitalize on the contiguity of Pakistan to resource rich countries in the Middle East, Central Asia, West Asia, and China. This can create multiple connectivities for win-win energy solutions.
China has pledged to provide 50 million yuan grant to Pakistan for new projects.
It was also decided to urgently convene a meeting of the Pak-China Joint Economic Forum in Islamabad for taking decisions on a host of issues, including currency swap, opening of branches of Chinese banks in Pakistan and relocating industries in the special proposed industrial zones in Pakistan. The Chinese Commerce Minister will lead his country’s delegation at the talks.
It was agreed that the China National Energy Administration will work out with Pakistani authorities the modalities of tackling Pakistan’s energy needs.
Both sides reached at the consensus that special committees will be set up in both the countries to celebrate in a befitting manner the 60th anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic relations next year.
Connectivity projects including the 500 million dollars Karakorum Highway upgradation  and the National Trade Corridor (NTC) were also discussed by the two sides and agreed to modernize the trade, transportation and logistics system for enhanced regional connectivity.
During the visit President Zardari also held separate meetings with Chinese Ministers for Water Resources and Agriculture reviewing progress on the hybrid seed and sprinkler irrigation projects.
The Chinese leadership directed Foreign Ministry to take steps for the exchange of youth delegations, cultural and writers’ delegations between the two countries and also increasing scholarships for young Pakistanis for studies in China.
President Hu Jintao promised “steady progress in cooperation with Pakistan in energy, telecom sectors, Neelum Jhelum project and Pakistan telecommunication satellite project.  Appreciating Pakistan’s support for one China Policy,  the Chinese leadership assured President Zardari of continued support to Pakistan at the United Nations and at multilateral forums, including SAARC and ECO and unflinching support to its fight against militancy. China has supported Pakistan’s full membership of the SCO.
During meetings with the top leadership of China the two sides reaffirmed at the highest level to strengthen the strategic relationship, increase the level of economic cooperation and take concrete measures to further bring their peoples closer together.
“China is a friend and a strategic partner committed to the promotion of stability and economic progress of Pakistan” is how President Hu described the relations between the two countries adding, “the two countries will continue to work together to further deepen the people to people contacts.
In response President Zardari said, “It is our belief that Pakistan can act as force multiplier for China and we will continue to work towards this end”.
The two Presidents met twice in the Great Hall of the People; first on a one-to-one basis and later along with their delegations followed by a banquet by President Hu Jintao.
The President also had  wide ranging talks with Premier Wen Jiabao and Chairman CPPCC Jia Qinglin that covered all regional and international issues.
The President also had media interactions both in Beijing and Shanghai with about ten different print and electronic media outlets, visited the Moenjodaro exhibition and met business and corporate leaders to bolster people to people contacts on the one hand and invite Chinese entrepreneurs to Pakistan on the other.
Just on the eve of President’s visit, China reaffirmed that it will go ahead with installation of two new nuclear reactors in Pakistan as the agreement ‘goes along well with the international non-proliferation obligations of China and Pakistan.
President Zardari responded by asserting that the two countries decision ‘to honour the agreement within the framework of their obligations towards non proliferation was a demonstration of the strength of their relationship’.
During the last two years more than five dozen new initiatives have been undertaken and nearly forty MoUs signed.
Ambassador Masood Khan said that the two-way trade which used to be less than $ 2 billion in 2002 is now around $ 7 billion. He said that there are about 120 Chinese enterprises working in Pakistan and that under the Five Year Programme for trade and economic cooperation 62 projects have been identified, out of which 27 have been launched; 26 are being examined; and 12 are being reviewed.
A Pakistan-China Joint Investment Company (JIC) has been established and is acting as a conduit for investment. Chinese have invested in Pakistan in telecommunications, energy, infrastructure, heavy engineering, IT, mining, and defence production, he said.
In 2008, Chinese and Pakistani enterprises signed contracts worth $ 4 billion. He said that it was a measure of strength of the relations between the two countries that all governments have been supporting it.-UNS