Washington, Oct 17 : A day after 11 pacts were signed in Beijing between Pakistan and China, senior Pakistani and Western officials said that China had privately agreed to follow a “step-by-step” approach to fulfilling Pakistan’s aspiration for an expanded nuclear energy program, rather than an ambitious Indo-US-like civil nuclear deal signed recently.

“Private” discussions are believed to have been held on expanded nuclear cooperation between Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese leaders during Zardari’s four-day visit to China beginning Tuesday.

In ten years, Pakistan plans to produce up to 8000 Megawatts of electricity using nuclear energy, said a report in cbsnews. com.

Frankfurt  - Chinese organizers of a culture show next year in the German city of Frankfurt said on Thursday that Taiwan would be welcome to take part it the effort to promote new books written in Chinese.

Every year, one nation attends the Frankfurt Book Fair as guest of honour, bringing a retinue of authors and musicians to drum up interest from German media and reading public. Turkey has the role this year.

Beijing - China said it was sympathetic to Pakistan's financial situation and would help its long-term ally "within its capability" on Thursday, as Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari continued his visit.

"As an all-weather friend, China understands Pakistan's economic and financial difficulties," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

"We are ready to support and help Pakistan within our capability," Qin told reporters, adding that financial organizations in the two nations would "keep communication" over the issue.

Beijing - China's main stock market index lost more than 4 per cent on Thursday as shares followed the global fall after more bad news from Wall Street on Wednesday.

Beijing/Islamabad, Oct. 16 : Pakistan’s long-deteriorating financial situation has prompted it to approach cash rich China for help in shoring up its economy.

According to a Washington Post report, With the global financial crisis draining coffers in the United States and Europe, the key U. S. ally in the war on terrorism is seeking help from an old friend newly flush with cash: China.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is in Beijing on a four-day state visit, and he is likely to seek between four to six billion dollars from China to tied over his country’s economic crisis in the short term.

Beijing, Oct 16 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is on a visit to China, signed as many as 11 agreements with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao last evening. The agreements, memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and protocols to enhance bilateral co-operation in trade, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, industry, mining, telecommunication, disaster relief and space technology.

On the occasion, Zardari also offered “preferential treatment” to Chinese investors.