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Pakistan PM Visits CASC
    UPDATED: 2011-05-25
BEIJING, May 25 (China Space News) — The successful launch of PakSat-1R satellite will be a generous gift from China to Pakistan, said Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani when he paid a visit to the assembly plant of China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) on May 20.

At the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Gilani made an official visit to China from May 17 to 20. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan and is also "China-Pakistan Friendship Year." The two sides have held a series of high-profile celebrations to mark the occasion, and visiting CAST was an important part of the prime minister's trip.

Ma Xingrui, president of CASC welcomed Gilani and accompanied him to the assembly plant. After Ma introduced the PakSat-1R satellite, currently being tested, Gilani said that if the satellite could be launched on schedule in the later half of this year, it would be a great achievement for China and Pakistan scientific cooperation. Ma presented a model of the satellite to Gilani as a gift after the visit, saying CASC will make every effort to make sure the satellite is launched successfully and on time.