Officials and businessmen from China and Pakistan held a seminar on economic cooperation here Saturday as part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

Pakistani Federal Minister for Science and Technology Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Swati and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui attended the seminar, which was held in the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).

In his welcome speech, ICCI President Mian Shaukat Masud said that China is Pakistan's strategic partner and time-tested friend as the two countries' bilateral ties are based on mutual interests and unanimity of views on regional and international issues.

"These close relations are strongly supplemented and supported by peoples of both countries. People and the government of Pakistan have great regard for the Chinese nation and the government, which has always stood with Pakistan at all difficult times," he said.

Chairman of the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Pakistan (ACEP) Cao Ye said that Chinese businessmen are all over Pakistan and they are making a lot of contributions to Pakistan's economic development.

He expressed the hope that the seminar would provide an opportunity for both Chinese and Pakistani businessmen to explore ways for further economic cooperation.

Ambassador Luo said that he is glad to see the first seminar of this kind co-organized by the ICCI and the ACEP. He hoped that the seminar would find a mechanism for Chinese enterprises to do business in Islamabad and other places in Pakistan.

Swati said that in the past 30 years, China brought a lot of changes to the east which should be shared by the people and the government of Pakistan.

"With this we're celebrating the 60th anniversary of the great Chinese nation. I salute to it from the core of my heart," he said.

During the one-day seminar, Pakistani officials from different departments introduced incentives of investing in Pakistan and the country's tax policy for foreign companies and investors. Representatives from some Chinese companies also shared their experiences of doing business in Pakistan.

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2009)