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Key China-Pakistan deals expected Key China-Pakistan deals expected
(about 3 hours later)
Chinese President Hu Jintao is in Pakistan after three days of trade and political talks in India.Chinese President Hu Jintao is in Pakistan after three days of trade and political talks in India.
The state-run Chinese news agency said unprecedented agreements were expected to be signed with Pakistan during Mr Hu's visit, but gave no details.The state-run Chinese news agency said unprecedented agreements were expected to be signed with Pakistan during Mr Hu's visit, but gave no details.
Correspondents say there has been speculation that they could involve a big expansion of Chinese assistance to Pakistan's nuclear power industry.Correspondents say there has been speculation that they could involve a big expansion of Chinese assistance to Pakistan's nuclear power industry.
This is similar to a recent civilian nuclear deal between the US and India.This is similar to a recent civilian nuclear deal between the US and India.
That landmark deal is awaiting final approval by the US Congress. Important agreements
Correspondents say India has always been suspicious of China's close support for Pakistan and its military ties with India's historical rival. Correspondents say that President Hu's visit is intended to reassure Pakistan - Beijing's closest ally in South Asia - of its strategic and economic support despite closer ties with India.
Pakistan and China's closer ties Obstacles facing China
President Hu's four-day visit - amid tight security - is the first by a Chinese leader in a decade.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz greeted President Hu and his wife on their arrival from Mumbai (Bombay) after a landmark three-day trip to India.
Soldiers fired off a 21-gun salute and huge red banners showing Mr Hu and his Pakistani counterpart were strung up around the capital and along the route from the airport.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that several important agreements would be signed during the president's "very significant" visit.
"China has been a consistent and a reliable friend of Pakistan for the last 55 years and we have very deep and strong cooperation in all areas," foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told AFP news agency.
"A number of agreements will be signed during this visit which will further strengthen existing cooperation in various fields, and will also expand bilateral relationship to the education, social and culture sectors," Ms Aslam said.
She said that recent reports that the two countries may sign a nuclear deal similar to one agreed by India and the US earlier this year were "speculative".
"However we have a long-standing cooperation in the civil nuclear field with China and a broad ranging agreement was signed in February 2006 when President Musharraf visited China."
'Megaport'
On Friday, President Hu will deliver a live television address to the Pakistani nation, the first foreign leader to do so since US President Bill Clinton in 2000.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that people like to talk about an "all-weather relationship" with China.
Our correspondent says that the friendship is seen as one of Islamabad's most stable alliances.
The two countries have close economic ties.
China has built an atomic power plant in Pakistan while a second is under construction. Beijing is the largest arms supplier to Islamabad and the two countries are jointly developing a fighter aircraft.
China has also ploughed millions of dollars in a "megaport" in southwest Pakistan to gain access to the Arabian Sea.
India is suspicious of China's close support for Pakistan and its military ties with India's historical rival.
But Mr Hu has said his country could help forge peace between the South Asian rivals and that Beijing sought no "selfish gains" in South Asia.But Mr Hu has said his country could help forge peace between the South Asian rivals and that Beijing sought no "selfish gains" in South Asia.
Protests
Mr Hu is the first Chinese head of state to visit both Pakistan and India in 10 years.
On his last day in India in the financial capital Mumbai (Bombay), Mr Hu met Indian business leaders, and the family of a doctor who died treating Chinese soldiers wounded during fighting with Japan.
China, get out of Tibet Tibetan protestors in Mumbai India visit in pictures
He presented an album of photographs of Dr Dwarkanath S Kotnis, a little known figure in India but a hero in China, to the family. The family presented him with a CD of a film on the doctor and a handloom bedspread.
"The meeting lasted 20-25 minutes. Mr Hu told us that China would be always grateful for Dr Kotnis's contribution," said family member Rajan Borkar.
Mr Hu's visit to China has been met with demonstrations by a number of Tibetan groups, protesting against alleged Chinese atrocities in Tibet.
One Tibetan protestor set himself on fire outside the hotel in Mumbai where was Mr Hu staying.
The police said the man had sustained burn injuries on his leg and had been taken to the hospital for treatment.
India now recognises Tibet as part of China, but still hosts more than 100,000 Tibetans, including the Tibetan government-in-exile led by the Dalai Lama.
Firming ties
During his visit to India, Mr Hu met Indian PM Manmohan Singh and both leaders pledged to double their trade to $40bn (£21bn) a year by 2010.
He also welcomed the peace process between India and Pakistan. He said China was prepared to play a "constructive role for the promotion of peace and development in South Asia".
Can Delhi bury past ghosts? Obstacles facing China
A peaceful and prosperous South Asia was beneficial for the whole world, Mr Hu said.
He also lauded what he said was China and India's "productive co-operation in many fields".
China and India have overcome many hurdles in recent years but significant differences remain, including a number of border disputes, correspondents say.
Both India and China have produced staggering economic growth in recent years, but India continues to lag behind on many fronts.
China has a literacy rate of 95%, compared with India's 68%. Indian exports of manufactured goods in the financial year ending last March were valued at $71bn, compared with $713bn for China.