$15bn trade with China targeted

China ties corner stone of Pak Foreign policy: Zardari
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday called for taking Pak-China bilateral trade and commercial ties to new heights as the two countries are not only old friends but also natural partners in the economic growth of the region.
"Strengthening and expanding cooperation with China in all fields is one of the key principles guiding Pakistan's foreign policy". According to Spokesman of the President House, President said this during a meeting with Chinese delegation led by Huang Xinoxiang, Vice Governor Sichuan Province of China, who called on him at Presidency.
Lue Zhouhui, Chinese ambassador in Pakistan was also present at the meeting of the 8-member Chinese delegation with the President.
The meeting was also attended by Saleem H Mandviwala, Chairman Board of Investment and federal secretaries of commerce, industries, and BOI besides other senior officials.
The President while referring to his previous four visits to China said that Pakistan was continue to learn from the Chinese economic and development miracle and benefit from its expertise in diverse areas of agriculture, education, communications, commerce, energy and industry.
He said that the current level of bilateral trade of $7 billion is much below the available potential and urged for increasing it to $15 billion by 2011.
The President said that Sichuan Province, the birthplace of the visionary leader of China Deng Xiaoping and one of the vital economic and cultural centres of China offer great potential to further solidify our strong friendship.
The President invited the leading Sichuan business corporations to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan to the mutual benefit. The President also urged for youth exchange and institutional links between the universities in Pakistan and Sichuan Province to further promote Pak-China friendship in the fields of education and culture. -Online