Musharraf: We'll bring killers of three Chinese to justice
(China Daily/agencies)
Updated: 2006-02-21 06:02

As close neighbours, China and Pakistan enjoy "an all-weather friendship," he added.

Musharraf described China as a trustworthy neighbour and partner.

Both sides agreed to step up co-operation in investment, energy and infrastructure construction, and push forward with talks on the establishment a free trade area.

Bilateral trade rose to US$4.25 billion last year from US$3.06 billion in 2004; and the two countries aim to lift two-way trade to US$8 billion by 2008.

Earlier yesterday, Musharraf met China's top legislator Wu Bangguo; and is expected to meet Premier Wen Jiabao and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin today.

He also had discussions with Zhang Deguang, secretary-general of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO), and expressed the hope that Pakistan would become a full member of the organization as soon as possible.

Pakistan is ready to play a bigger role within the SCO framework, Musharraf was quoted as saying.

Pakistan plays a "great role" in fighting international terrorism, and also in the development of economic and cultural ties between the countries in the region, Zhang said.

Musharraf will visit Southwest China's Sichuan Province before his departure on Thursday.

Energy Cooperation

China and Pakistan reinforced their steadily warming ties Monday, signing agreements on a range of issues - including defense and energy cooperation - just days after militants killed three Chinese engineers in Pakistan.

Chinese President Hu Jintao called visiting Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf "an old friend of the Chinese people" after the two exchanged handshakes and broad grins in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Wednesday evening.

Hours earlier, Musharraf apologized to China - one of his country's main defense suppliers and trading partners - over the drive-by shootings of three Chinese engineers by tribal militants in Pakistan.

He said the incident brought "shame" on his country.

"The man in the street (in Pakistan) loves the Chinese people," Musharraf told China's parliament chief, Wu Bangguo, during the part of their Beijing meeting open to reporters.

Fifty suspects have been arrested.

Hu said China hoped Pakistan will ensure the safety of Chinese people in Pakistan - a presence likely to increase after the leaders and high-level delegations from both sides held closed-door meetings, then signed 13 agreements on a wide range of issues.