China encourages energy, power co-op with Pakistan

BEIJING - President Hu Jintao said Thursday that China encourages and supports its enterprises to participate in energy and electric power projects in Pakistan.

Hu made the remarks when holding talks with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

In order to cement and advance the China-Pakistan strategic and cooperative partnership, Hu raised a five-point proposal to Zardari.

He called on the two sides to improve strategic communication and cooperation, maintain high-level visits and exchange views on major issues concerning the two countries.

He hoped that the two sides will deepen pragmatic cooperation, especially in the sectors of trade, energy, transportation infrastructure construction, agriculture, telecommunications, aerospace and technology.

"China will continue to provide assistance for Pakistan's economic and social development within our capacity," said Hu.

He called on the two sides to improve law-enforcement and security cooperation, and jointly fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

On people-to-people exchanges, Hu suggested that the two sides expand cooperation in education, culture, media, and between the youth and women, and promote cooperation at a local level.

He also urged the two sides to improve multilateral coordination, noting that China is willing to increase coordination with Pakistan within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Zardari thanked China for its support of Pakistan's maintenance of domestic stability and development as well as China's assistance to Pakistan when the country was affected by floods and earthquakes.

He said he welcomed Chinese enterprises to expand investment in Pakistan, especially in infrastructure construction and the energy sector, so to safeguard Pakistan's economic development and improve its people's living standards.

Pakistan will continue to support China on issues concerning China's core interests and to be tough on terrorism, said the president.

He congratulated China on the success of the SCO Beijing summit and hoped to enhance coordination with China on major regional issues and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a series of cooperative documents.

Zardari arrived in Beijing on Tuesday night to visit China and attend the SCO Beijing summit held Wednesday to Thursday.