World | Pakistan
Zardari arrives in China to cement ties
Pakistan's president highlighted the historic friendship between his country and China when he met with President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Wednesday, seeking increased investment to help his country's ailing economy.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:29 October 15, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese President Hu Jintao inspect the guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China.
Beijing: Pakistan's president highlighted the historic friendship between his country and China when he met with President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Wednesday, seeking increased investment to help his country's ailing economy.
"The only way I could do justice to the memory of my late wife and my late father-in-law was to make sure that I made my first president's trip to China as my official visit," Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari told Hu during a welcoming ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the Great Hall of the People.
He added, "I'm hoping to assist China-Pakistan relationship to take them further along. It is a duty which history has bestowed upon me."
Zardari's wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was killed in a bombing last year, and his father-in-law, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, "are old friends of the Chinese people," Hu replied in turn.
The two "made important contributions to the initiation and development of China-Pakistan relations in their lifetime. This is something we will never forget," Hu said before the two leaders went into private meetings.
The men later attended a signing ceremony for agreements including one encouraging Chinese investment in Pakistan.
A possible deal between the countries on civil nuclear power is also highly anticipated. Such an agreement would serve as a counterpoint to a recent deal between India and the United States that cleared the way for American businesses to sell nuclear fuel and technology to India for use in its civilian programmes.
Zardari is on a four-day trip to China, his first official bilateral visit since taking office last month.
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