By KUNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan Saturday said that during the visit of President Asif Ali Zardari, a progress has been made in civilian nuclear cooperation, and that Beijing will build two nuclear plants to meet ever-growing energy needs of Islamabad.
Addressing a joint press conference with Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tareen, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi said that China has given the go ahead with Chashma-III and Chashma-IV nuclear plants to generate additional 680- MW electricity.
China has been a major source of Pakistan’s nuclear technological needs and the trade and cooperation in this regard have been causing significant concern in the West. Most of China’s other nuclear exports and cooperative projects have been primarily for non-military purposes. China has also allegedly provided direct assistance to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons’ program in the past.
The Foreign Minister further said that during the four-day visit of President Zardari to China, it was also agreed to further enhance civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries.
Finance Advisor Shaukat Tareen, on the occasion said that Chinese companies have pledged an investment worth USD 1.2 billion in various sectors in Pakistan, adding that the focus was on seeking greater investment on ongoing and future strategic projects.
He said talks were also held to improve the trade balance, currently in favor of China with around USD five billion of exports against USD one billion from Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi said that the President has decided to visit China every three months to promote economic integration.
China has also supported the Friends of Pakistan initiative, aimed at helping Pakistan out of prevalent financial crisis, and would attend the next meeting to be held soon in United Arab Emirates.