China, Pakistan pledge to boost trade, defence ties

October 13th, 2009 BEIJING - China has reportedly offered high-tech counter-terrorism system to Pakistan to boost its defence sector and to help its efforts to fight terrorism. According to reports, four delegations from different Chinese companies have met Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani to decide upon the matter, while the China Development Bank and other Chinese institutions will provide funds in this connection.

September 12th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday said his country wants to further bolster the existing strong bilateral ties with China and to enhance the strategic economic cooperation between the two countries. Pakistan "attaches high value to its relations with china and takes pride in the success story of China", Zardari said while speaking to Chinese ambassador in Pakistan Luo Zhaohui who visited the president here Saturday, Online news agency reported.

August 26th, 2009 KOLKATA - Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju has said that while India is strengthening its economic ties with China, it will not downplay any sort of possible threat perception. Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Raju said, "There has not been any violation or there have not been any skirmishes.

July 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India Thursday said the rapid enhancement in the defence capabilities of China as well as its hobnobbing with Pakistan and other countries in South Asia have military implications for India. Releasing its annual defence report, India said that it was carefully monitoring China's defence modernisation.

June 26th, 2009 BEIJING - In a step further to embolden their military relationship, Chinese Defence Minister, Liang Guanglie met Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, here on Friday. Guanglie met Air Chief Marshal Suleman, who is currently on a visit to China, and vowed to further strengthen friendship between both countries.

June 19th, 2009 BERLIN - Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and his German counterpart Gen Schneidrhan have pledged to boost defence cooperation and enhance strategic partnership, the Online news agency said Friday. During a meeting here, the two officials discussed the ongoing war on terrorism and the regional situation, among other issues, it said.

June 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has hiked its defence spending for fiscal 2009-10 to Rs.347 billion ($4 billion) in the budget presented in parliament Saturday. Of this, Rs.343 billion has been allocated for the armed forces, Rs.463 million for defence production and Rs.840 million for the defence division, Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar said while delivering the first budget speech by a woman in Pakistan's history.

June 7th, 2009 Taiwan mulls loosening semiconductor restrictionsTAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan is considering loosening its restrictions on Taiwanese semiconductor investment in China, a move that would continue to boost expanded economic ties with the mainland. Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou said Friday that the island was "not excluding the possibility" of allowing companies to set up 12-inch wafer fabrication plants in China.

June 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju Monday said India is concerned over Pakistan's growing nuclear arsenal and asked the world to exert pressure on Islamabad not to cross minimum deterrent threshold.

May 31st, 2009 Geithner says US wants closer ties with ChinaBEIJING — U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says he wants to develop the same kind of close working relationship with China that the U.S.

May 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Advocating "eternal vigilance", A.K. Antony Monday expressed concern over the security scenario around India and spelt out priority areas in his second term as defence minister -- infrastructure development in northeast and border areas, modernisation of the armed forces and welfare of the troops.

May 20th, 2009 JAMMU - India and Pakistan should take steps to augment the cross-border trade between the two countries in Jammu and Kashmir, an industry lobby said Wednesday. Though the trade across the Line of Control (LoC) - the de facto border in the state - is picking up, there was 'an urgent need to redress the long identified problems', Ram Sahai, president of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries, told the media.

May 15th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) had denied reports that the Transit Trade Agreement signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan would also provide India a direct route to Afghanistan through the Wagah border, but the text of the accord has put it on wrong foot. According to the document, the second clause of the agreement clearly mentions that not only would Afghanistan get access to the sea route, but it could also find new avenues to India and China for similar purposes.

April 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and China Friday vowed to jointly fight terrorism and to expand their cooperation in the defence, economic and energy sectors. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, at their meeting in the southern Chinese city of Sanya, discussed the entire range of strategic and economic cooperation, as also matters relating to agriculture, power generation and finance, APP news agency reported.

January 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra Thursday said India's stronger relationship with the US after the nuclear deal will make its ties with China 'difficult' and drew attention to speculation about China's suspected designs on Arunachal Pradesh. 'There is speculation about China trying to capture what they call southern Tibet (Arunachal Pradesh).