CRI听力:China, Pakistan Lift Ties to All-weather Strategic Partnership of Coop

Xi Jinping's plane was escorted into its landing in Pakistan by a group of JF-17 fighter jets.

These are jets jointly produced by China and Pakistan, with JF literally standing for Joint Fighters.

After his arrival, the Chinese President then met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The two have overseen the signing of over 50 cooperative deals, covering areas such as infrastructure, energy and agriculture, among others.

The deals mainly involve the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

This is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking the Chinese-run deep-water Port in the southwestern Pakistani city of Gwadar with the city of Kashgar in the western part of Xinjiang.

The total investment in the corridor is expected to reach some 46-billion US dollars.

Many observers in Pakistan are suggesting the massive initiative is going to be a win-win for both sides.
Umar Cheema is a senior journalist with the Pakistani newspaper "War."

"The infrastructure and the huge investment that is coming to Pakistan, it will open a flood gate of opportunities for people of Pakistan. It will improve infrastructure, it will address the energy needs. And, what China is doing has been done [by] no other country, so this signifies a kind of special relationship the two countries are enjoying."

Cheema also points out the Economic Corridor gives China direct access to the Indian Ocean, allowing Chinese exporters to avoid having to ship their products through the South China Sea and the Malacca Straits before heading to destinations in Africa or Europe.

At the same time, the Pakistani side is expressing hope the Economic Corridor will help eliminate the chronic power shortages the country currently struggles with.

Masood Khalid is Pakistan's Ambassador to China.

"Pakistan is currently facing an energy shortage. So we've been in discussion with the Chinese government to overcome this problem. I must say that we have received very positive response from the Chinese government and now we're in the implementation phase to launch these energy projects."

In a joint statement, the two countries agreed to set a target of raising bilateral trade to 20 billion U.S. dollars in three years. Two-way trade exceeded 16 billion U.S. dollars last year.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has also discussed military cooperation with Pakistan's military chief, calling for a broadening of military cooperation in areas such as joint exercises and trainings.

The Chinese President has pledged China's continuing support to the Pakistani efforts on maintaining its independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and its anti-terror strategy.

For their parts, the Pakistani military leaders said they staunchly back China's efforts to counter terrorism and safeguard national security.

Xi Jinping's two-day visit to Pakistan is his first trip to the country since taking office in 2013.

For CRI, I'm Wang Mengzhen.