Asif Ali Zardari’s first visit to China as president has been covered comprehensively by the Pakistani press. Dawn (October 16) reports: “Pakistan and China signed here on Wednesday 12 agreements, memorandums of understanding and protocols to enhance cooperation on a sound footing in various sectors, including infrastructure, information technology, energy, telecommunication, agriculture, industry, minerals, trade, disaster relief and space technology”. The report adds, “President Hu Jintao and President Zardari expressed satisfaction over the growth of Pakistan-China relations and agreed that their friendship had emerged stronger with every important change in the international, regional and domestic environment”.

China has also assured Pakistan full support on the economic front. Dawn (October 17) reports: “China vowed on Thursday to do what it could to help Pakistan avert financial disaster as President Asif Ali Zardari continued an official visit aimed at rustling up crucial Chinese investments”.

Apart from his own country’s press, The Chinese press also played up his visit. Says The News (October 17) “Chinese print and electronic media gave wide publicity and projection to President Asif Ali Zardari’s first 4-day state visit to China, highlighting strengths and warmth of the time-tested bilateral partnership. The English newspaper of mass circulation, China Daily, carried a front page story with banner headline ‘Visit cements all-weather partnership’.” In another report The News quotes I&B minister Sherry Rehman as saying “ President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to China reflects the present government’s special relationship and reinforcement of all weather, time-tested friendship between the two countries”.

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