owned corporations and companies have been undertaking many important projects in Pakistan. But we are happy to say that the Chinese private sector is also now very interested in partnerships with their Pakistani counterparts. We would welcome and facilitate this in all sectors.

China has pursued a "going global" strategy to increase investment in other countries in recent years. As a close neighbor, what will Pakistan do to facilitate Chinese investment?

When President Musharraf visited Beijing last February, we signed, among others, two very important framework agreements with China. There was the Framework on Deepening and Expanding Economic and Trade Cooperation and the Framework on Energy Cooperation. So these two documents provide a strong foundation for promoting greater cooperation in all sectors, i.e. agriculture, industry, manufacturing, energy, minerals and mining, infrastructure, and information technology. It is very comprehensive. We presume there is going to be very good development across the board between the two countries. We are now moving toward project cooperation. Of course, this was already there in the public sector; but now, it is also appearing in the private sector.

To name a few, we have important projects in the mining sector, such as the Saindak gold/copper project that is being expanded. We have project cooperation in the minerals sector and a lead and zinc mine project is being carried out with Chinese cooperation. We also have cooperation in the upstream energy sector, i.e. prospecting for oil and gas. These are things that are now taking place. Besides, there are some mega-projects. Joint hydropower projects have already been established. We have the most important project to be completed-Gwadar Port [in Baluchistan]. We have the Karakoram Highway, a "passage of friendship" between Pakistan and China, which is being upgraded. A lot of Chinese companies are interested in areas such as special industrial zones, hi-tech parks and special economic zones, and also in real estate, urban infrastructure development and construction of airports.

I am very pleased to say that a lot of good progress is being made in terms of economic and project cooperation.

What do you think of the energy cooperation between China and Pakistan?

I think China is pursuing a very enlightened policy in all domains, including energy, and we completely agree with them. We share the same perspective. China advocates to promote peaceful energy cooperation in the world and this is also something that we support and share with China. Pakistan itself has attached great importance to energy cooperation and especially we have taken initiatives in South Asia to promote energy cooperation within the SAARC [South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation] forum. We are very happy that China is associated with SAARC. We fully endorse the efforts of the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization] to bring energy cooperation to the fore.

As for bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and China, as already mentioned, we signed the Framework Agreement on Energy Cooperation in February 2006 and this provides the principles for broad cooperation in all fields, namely fossil fuels including coal, hydropower, solar power and nuclear power.

Of course, Pakistan, because of its geographical location, is surrounded by resource-rich regions. The country happens to be in a way conduit for future energy cooperation between Central Asia, the Middle East and the Gulf with a vast demand not only in Europe and elsewhere in the West, but also in East Asia. So I think what we are looking forward to is greater bilateral cooperation translated into concrete projects. We are already cooperating in the upstream area. We are now looking toward the downstream sector and the prospects of establishing oil refineries and a petrochemical industry through bilateral cooperation for a win-win scenario. Pakistan-China energy cooperation is proceeding in a very positive and healthy manner.