Premier Zhu Rongji Meets Pakistani Ministers

Chinese Premier Meets Pakistani Finance Minister

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Premier Zhu Rongji said Thursday that China hopes the China-Pakistan cooperative project at a sea port in southern Pakistan can be launched as soon as possible.

Zhu made this remark during a meeting with Pakistani Minister of Finance Shaukat Aziz and Minister for Communications Javed Ashraf, who arrived here Tuesday as guests of Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng.

Zhu said the Chinese Government and people hope that the economy of Pakistan develops faster, people's living standards improve more quickly, and China-Pakistan cooperation grows even stronger.

The Chinese premier visited Pakistan in May this year and decided to cooperate on the Gwadar Port project with the Pakistani leaders. Following the visit, senior officials from China have conducted a series of follow-up activities for the project.

Aziz gave to Zhu a letter written by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Minister Ashraf said the two sides have cooperated very well on the project and the Pakistani side agrees with the fund- raising plan put forward by China.