"It is our collective objective to strengthen strategic ties between our two countries," he told a joint session of Pakistan's parliament before returning to China Sunday afternoon.

Boosting trade and investment with Pakistan was the focus of the first visit by a Chinese premier in five years to the country, which is battling a Taliban insurgency and is at the forefront of the US-led war on Al-Qaeda.

Business leaders and cabinet ministers formalised around 35 billion dollars' worth of trade deals during the visit, signing a raft of agreements designed to prop up Pakistan's ailing economy and ease its crippling energy crisis.

Wen, who arrived in Pakistan straight from a visit to arch-rival India, Sunday predicted "sustained growth of our economic and trade ties" as the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Beijing and Islamabad approached.

He welcomed Pakistani efforts to increase exports to China and said the two countries would explore the possibility of a currency swap agreement.

"The future of economic cooperation between the two countries is very bright," Wen said. "China is Pakistan's all-weather strategic partner."

Pakistan regards China as its closest ally and views the deals as extremely important to its moribund economy, which was dealt a huge blow by catastrophic flooding this year and suffers from sluggish Western investment.

The poverty-stricken country is reliant on China's clout to offset the perceived threat from rival India and rescue its economy.

But the fresh trade deals with Pakistan were dwarfed by those signed on Wen's trip to India, where he and his 400-strong delegation signed deals to double trade to 100 billion dollars a year by 2015.

Wen pledged Sunday that "China will remain steadfast in its support to Pakistan and will expect the same from the international community".

"The people of Pakistan will surely overcome (their) difficulties," he added.

Though not specifically mentioned, behind-the-scenes talks had been expected on China's help in building a nuclear power plant as part of Pakistani plans to produce 8,000 megawatts of electricity by 2025 to make up its energy shortfall.

The nuclear-armed Muslim nation, with a population of 167 million, produces only 80 percent of its electricity needs, starving industry that has slumped in the face of recession and three years of Taliban-linked bombings.

Pakistan imposed blanket security for Wen's visit, which coincided with a public holiday and the weekend, determined that suicide attacks and bombings that have killed 4,000 people since 2007 would not mar the occasion.

"Pakistan has rendered invaluable sacrifices in the war against terror," Wen said, urging the international community to respect Islamabad's efforts after leaked diplomatic cables showed US officials doubt the commitment of Pakistani politicians to fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

"We should not link terrorism to any specific religion or nation, and avoid pursuing double standards while dealing with the issue. We should rather focus on the root causes of terrorism and ways to eliminate them," he added.

The two countries reaffirmed their resolve to "undertake substantive cooperation and jointly fight terrorism, separatism and extremism," said a joint statement issued after Wen's visit had concluded.

"The Chinese side reiterated that it respects the counter-terrorism strategy constituted and implemented by Pakistan in light of its own national conditions," the statement added.

"The two countries voiced support for the unity and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, the efforts of the Afghan government to advance peace, reconstruction and national reconciliation", it said.

Wen inaugurated a 35-million-dollar cultural centre built as a monument to Pakistani-Chinese friendship and met opposition leader Nawaz Sharif and senior figures in the military, which depends on China for hardware.

Local analysts say China's support for Pakistan comes at a price, which could increase as Beijing edges closer to superpower status.

"China will expect Pakistan to be more forthright in counter-terrorism," said political analyst Hasan Askari.

"It has worries about militancy in western China," where it wants to develop Kashgar city into a major industrial and economic centre, he added.

earlier related report
China, Pakistan conclude 35 billion dollar deals
Islamabad (AFP) Dec 18, 2010 - China and Pakistan concluded nearly 15 billion dollars' worth of deals on Saturday, as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Beijing would "never give up" on the troubled nuclear-armed Muslim country.

Business leaders formalised paperwork -- adding to the 20 billion dollars' worth of deals signed Friday -- under blanket security at Islamabad's five-star Marriott Hotel, where a huge suicide truck bomb killed 60 people in 2008.

Boosting trade and investment with poverty-stricken Pakistan have been the main focus of the first visit in five years by a Chinese premier to the country that is on the front line of the US-led war on Al-Qaeda.

Pakistan regards China as its closest ally and considers the deals incredibly important to a moribund economy which was dealt a massive blow by catastrophic flooding this year and suffers from sluggish Western investment.

"We signed 18 agreements today worth close to 15 billion dollars and we hope to grow further together in coming years," said Sultan Ahmad Chawla, president of Pakistan's chamber of commerce and industry.

According to a list handed out to journalists, the biggest deal was 6.5 billion dollars to develop wind and solar power.

Pakistan suffers from a debilitating energy crisis and produces only 80 percent of the electricity it needs.

Though not specifically mentioned, behind-the-scenes talks were expected on China building a one-gigawatt nuclear power plant as part of Pakistani plans to produce 8,000 megawatts of electricity by 2025 to make up its energy shortfall.

The Islamabad city administration declared Saturday a public holiday, apparently for security reasons with the country on full-time alert for suicide attacks and bombings blamed on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked extremists.

"We have established an all-weather friendship and engaged in all-round cooperation. The China-Pakistan relationship has withstood the test of time and changes in the international landscape," Wen told a lunch in his honour.

"Under no circumstances we will give up on our commitment to pursuing this partnership."

Wen pledged China's full support in the wake of the floods, which affected 21 million people, saying Beijing would help the country "lay a new solid foundation for you to achieve self-owned, stable and sustainable development."

He inaugurated a cultural centre built as a monument to Pakistani-Chinese friendship and held talks with opposition leader Nawaz Sharif and senior figures in the military, which depends on China for hardware.

The 35-million-dollar Pakistan-China Friendship Centre offers the Pakistani capital a conference venue, theatre, cinema and space for multiple events.

Young Pakistani girls decked out in traditional dress and waving the flags of both countries danced, before Wen kissed one of them on the cheek.

President Asif Ali Zardari will host a state banquet late Saturday before Wen addresses a special joint session of parliament early Sunday and leaves.

Pakistan depends on China's clout to offset the perceived threat from rival India and rescue its economy, overcome its severe energy crisis and make up for poor foreign investment.

But local analysts recognise that China's support comes at a price -- a price that could increase as Beijing edges closer to superpower status.

"China expects Pakistan to be a reliable partner in the region. Here they have a country on whom they can rely. This provides a good outlet for Chinese investment abroad," said political analyst Hasan Askari.

But he added: "China will expect Pakistan to be more forthright in counter-terrorism. It has worries about militancy in western China", where it wants to develop Kashgar city into a major industrial and economic centre.

"Pakistan can help China because of its geographical position, but it has to first control terrorism," said Askari.

Before arriving in Islamabad, Wen visited India, where he and his 400-strong delegation signed deals that will see trade double to 100 billion dollars a year by 2015.

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