Visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says many opportunities were available for Chinese investors and is pledging to help joint venture investment.

"We would do anything to facilitate the process of identifying the right opportunities and establishing business in Pakistan", Musharraf told a Pakistan-China business forum in Beijing Tuesday evening.

Musharraf said Pakistan would offer Chinese investors an exclusive economic zone where they can work together with their Pakistani partners.

"The land and utilities will be supplied for this economic zoneas soon as an agreement is reached with prospective developers and investors", Musharraf promised.

Chinese President Hu Jintao met Musharraf Monday. The two sides both agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit in such fields as economy, trade, science and technology, and substantiate preferential trade arrangements.

Musharraf said Pakistan and China both have expertise in textiles and cooperation in this field would not only result in mutual benefit, but also help Pakistani and Chinese enterprises enhance their competitiveness.

Chinese investment in the sectors of oil and gas, banking, power generation and distribution, gas transmission, telecom and Information Technology were also welcomed, Musharraf said.

Statistics from China's Ministry of Commerce showed that China-Pakistan trade has maintained double-digit growth in recent years. Bilateral trade reached US$1.8 billion, a historic height, in 2002 and US$1.64 billion from January to September this year, 24 percent more than the same period last year.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2003)