Pakistan expects cooperation with China to pick up

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain said Saturday that he will ask China to speed up the implementation of the agreements signed between the two governments especially on the energy cooperation. He made the remarks in an interview with the Chinese media at the Presidential Palace three days before he pays a state visit to China. He hoped to reach consensus with China to accelerate the projects relating to energy in order to overcome power shortage. "The people of Pakistan will be grateful to Chinese people and government for their help in energy sector," Hussain said. Hussain hoped that the execution of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor should also be accelerated. The project is going to be a monument of the century, he said, adding that it will benefit not only Pakistan and China, but also the whole region with billions of people. Hussain said China is Pakistan's really best friend and Pakistan always stands by China, adding that the relations between the two countries stand the test of time. He was proud to be the first foreign head of state to visit China after China's Spring Festival and hoped his visit will further enhance people to people contacts as well as cultural and trade relations. Hussain will pay a state visit to China from Feb. 18 to 21 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday.