China has maintained a silence on Pakistan's persistent requests to make more nuclear plants for it but agreed to develop the South Asian country into an energy corridor for oil supplies to the Communist nation.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images] and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao met on Friday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. They have agreed to work together to develop Pakistan as an energy corridor through the strategic Gwadar seaport in southwest Balochistan, according to media reports.

Besides reaffirming their resolve to strengthen the existing partnership in its all dimensions, particularly in the economic sector, both leaders agreed to coordinate their stated positions on regional and international issues at the United Nations and other levels.

The Chinese president offered to enhance his country's support for undertaking reconstruction work in the areas that were hit by the devastating earthquake in Pakistan last year.

• Playing the nuclear game

The two, however, were silent on Pakistan's request to build more Chinese nuclear power plants. Pakistan wants China to build bigger nuclear power plants but Beijing [Images] has expressed its inability as it could only build plants to generate 350 MW.

China has built a 350 MW plant at Chashma in Punjab and is building one more at the same site. Before his departure for Shanghai, Musharraf said Pakistan wants China to build two more 300 MW plants. He has turned to China after the United States refused to enter into a civilian nuclear energy deal with it.

During Friday's meeting, he sought China's support for Pakistan's full membership of the regional grouping. Musharraf also visited Hudong shipyard, where China is building Naval Frigates for the Pakistan Navy.

The $600 million deal involved transfer of technology, he said. Three frigates, to be equipped with latest helicopter and missile system, will be built at the Chinese Hudong Shipping country, while four will be built at the Karachi shipyard.