Wednesday, April 6 2005 11:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan and China yesterday (Apr 5, 2005) signed 21 agreements, including a Treaty of Friendship, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build naval ships and free trade treaty, enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

The 21 agreements relating to cooperation in the fields of Defence, social and economic fields were signed after talks between visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz.

Top officials of both countries signed and exchanged 21 agreements and MoUs on cooperation in economic, Defence, energy, infrastructure, social sector, health, education, higher education, housing and other areas in the presence of the two leaders.

The two countries also agreed on financing arrangement of $ 350 million for Chashma-II nuclear power project. China helped Pakistan with the construction of Chasma-I project.

Under an agreement, a Chinese company would also construct 1200 low cost housing units at a cost of $ 85 million.

Aziz said during his talks with Wen he briefed him about the ongoing India Pakistan peace process and steps taken by the two countries to implement a number of Confidence Building Measures (CBM).

Wen later attended a banquet hosted in his honour by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and the two leaders held talks on bilateral, regional and global issues.

The Chinese Premier began his tour to South Asia yesterday with a three-day visit to Pakistan. He would also be visiting Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.