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Warm welcome to Hu

Nirupama Subramanian

China, Pakistan expected to sign several agreements

ISLAMBAD: China and Pakistan are expected to sign several agreements including one on Free Trade Area during the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao who arrived here on Thursday.

Mr. Hu will hold talks with President Pervez Musharraf and with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday. He will also address the nation at a specially organised function. On Saturday, he will visit Lahore where he will be accorded a civic reception.

Pakistan rolled out a warm welcome to Mr. Hu on his arrival here in the afternoon from India. Gen. Musharraf and Mr. Aziz received the Chinese leader at the Chaklala airbase in Rawalpindi to the sounds of a 21-gun salute. Later, the President hosted a banquet for Mr. Hu.

Mr. Hu was introduced to the service chiefs, the Cabinet and representatives of the diplomatic community at the airport. People had turned out in their hundreds along the roads through which Mr. Hu's motorcade sped towards the capital, some of them showering flower petals on the cars. Islamabad has been spruced up and illuminated for the visit.

The two sides are expected to ink an agreement for a five-year economic development programme, and another for the broadening of the Karakoram Highway, the overland connection between Pakistan and China.

China already has massive investment in infrastructure projects in Pakistan, including the construction of Gwadar Port in Balochistan and a number of other road and building construction projects.

China also has ongoing deals for defence supplies to Pakistan including the P-22 frigates and JF-17 Thunder aircraft. A senior Air Force official told Pakistani media at an arms exhibition in Karachi that the first two of these fighter aircraft would arrive by March 2007, while another six would be delivered later in the year.

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