Pak-China Relationship: Newer Horizons

By Dr. Raja Muhammad Khan

Chinese Prime Minister waving to the crowd at Islamabad

Airport. PM Yusuf Raza Gilani, Fehmida Mirza, Speaker
National Assembly and Farooq Naik, Chairman Senate are
also there.
On the final day of his three days, historic visit to Pakistan,
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, addressed the joint
session of Pakistani Parliament. During the address, the
distinguished guest lauded Pakistan’s role and sacrifices, it
rendered in fighting out the terrorism.  He said, “Pakistan has
paid a heavy price in combating terrorism. The fight against
terrorism should not be linked with any religion or ethnic
group and there should be no double standards.” He further
emphasized that, “The international community should
affirm that and give great support as well as respect the path
of development chosen by Pakistan.” He also promised to
further enhance the strategic and economic cooperation
between Pakistan and China in the days to come.  Indeed, in
conformity to the national interests of the peoples of both
countries, this strategic partnership would promote, “peace,
stability and prosperity of the region.”
Indeed, the three days visit of Chinese Premier Mr. Wen
Jiabao, has attained another milestone in the history of bi-
lateral relationship of Pakistan and China. This visit is of a
unique significance, as it covers all aspects viz; the strategic,
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political and economic. In the wordings of the Premier Wen,
“To cement and advance the all-weather strategic partnership
of cooperation between China and Pakistan is our common
strategic choice.” In the joint communiqué, issued by both
countries, it was decided to boost the bi-lateral cooperation
in the field of energy, defence, space technology,
transportation, banking, infrastructure development, heavy
machinery manufacturing, cultural exchange and finance.
Another distinctiveness of the visit of Premier Wen Jiabao is
that he made sure to meets all stakeholders in Pakistan. 

Apart from  the traditional

meetings with the President and Prime Minister, Chinese
Premier met with leaders of all political parties of Pakistan.
Rather, it was a rare mosaic of Pakistani political, religious,
and territorial leadership gathering to welcome their all time
friend in Islamabad.  This gathering was indicative of the fact
that, there exists no second opinion about Pakistan’s
relationship with the People’s Republic of China. This fact
was amply highlighted in the welcoming address of the
leader of opposition during joint session of Parliament once
he said, “We are mired in a lot of controversies, but on one
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issue there is no controversy and that is our friendship with
China.” No global leader ever has such a reception and
united response and indeed a spirit of love from Pakistan
ever. Chinese Premier also had a detail meeting with the
Armed Forces heads under Chairman Joint Chief of Staff
Committee and assured further enhancement in the ongoing
cooperation in the field of defence. Premier Wen Jiabao
declared that, “Beijing would never give up on Pakistan.”
Seeing the unity among the leadership in Pakistan, Prime
Minister Wen said that, “Government and people of Pakistan
are united and moving forward to safeguard solidarity,
prosperity, and sovereignty of the country.” He also
announced 500 educational scholarships for the Pakistani
students in Chinese educational institutions. This indeed,
would enhance people-to-people contact in both countries.
Today China houses 20% global population and because of
its overwhelming growth rate, it has become a powerhouse
of Asia. The enormous Chinese development in the field of
technology, industry and even in the field of defence has
created a fear in the Western world. India too is jealously
following the Chinese path. Since China has strategic
partnership with Pakistan, therefore, this aspect seriously
bothering India. Projects like; Karakoram highway, Gwadar
port, and Chashma nuclear reactors are some of the aspects
where both countries are having strategic cooperation.
Besides, China is investing in a number of other projects
like; 2.6 billion dollars Kohala Hydel project and 8 billion
dollars Bunji dam project.

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Following the establishment of Pak-China diplomatic
relationship in May 1951, both countries has attained many
milestones in their bi-lateral relationship. Pakistan, otherwise
among the first few countries, which recognized this great
communist state, proved its friendship by making strong
lobby in getting the UN membership for China.  The initial
slow pace of mutual understanding got an impetus following
the Sino-India war of 1962. In the era of Field Martial
Muhammad Ayub, then Foreign Minister (later Prime
Minister), Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto formalised this relationship on
the strategic lines. Through his strategic vision, he made Pak-
China relationship as an essential and never changing pillar
of the Foreign Policy of Pakistan. The same vision exists
even today and Pakistan maintained it as an inalienable part
of its diplomatic relationship.  
China has always appreciated its deep-rooted friendship with
Pakistan and acknowledges Pakistan’s untiring efforts for
getting her closer to United States in early 1970s.  Indeed,
through this collaboration during the peak days of the cold
war, Pakistan lessened the tension, previously existed
between U.S and the China, by becoming a bridge between
two giants. Following this collaboration, China got an
opening and diplomatic and trade excess into the Western
world, whereas, U.S got a Communist friend in Asia. In a
way, Pakistan proved its significance and vision as an
international facilitator if not mediator. Thereafter, Chinese
markets and goods were introduced at the global level and its
economy started prospering to a level of second to U.S only
in the contemporary world today. For the United States, this
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was the first moral and diplomatic pre-eminence over former
Soviet Union. 
During the visit of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Pakistan and
China concluded economic deals worth $35 billion in total. 
These deals include; 17 agreements, four memorandum of
understanding (MoU) and a joint venture. This indeed is a
new record of the economic deals and agreements in the
history of traditional friends. Both Premiers attended the
Pak-China Business Cooperation summit, participated by
260 Chinese delegates with their 150 Pakistani counterparts.
China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCIT)
and Board of Investment, Ministry of Commerce, Federation
of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI),
jointly organized this summit. The agreements reached
during the summit include; “development of energy sector,
promotion of trade, exploration of natural resources and
development of agriculture, livestock, finance and banking
sectors.” 
A $6.5 billion MoU was signed between China Three Gorges
Corporation and Alternative Energy Development Board for
the wind power projects and solar energy projects. Both the
countries signed framework agreement in relation to
Development Finance Cooperation Agreement besides
inking agreement of purchasing seafood, guar products,
cotton yarn purchase and yarn import contract. In addition,
frozen fish agreement, import stone business agreement,
leather purchasing contract and agreement for purchasing of
Pakistan rapeseed meal, were also inked on the occasion.
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Cooperation agreement, medical equipments donation
agreement, and stone import business were also signed
during the daylong summit between the business
communities of both the countries.

On this occasion, Chinese

Premier, reiterated his resolve to enhance the bilateral trade
with Pakistan in the coming years in a bid to improve the
flow of investments between both countries. The bi-lateral
trade between Pakistan and China rise from $1 billion in
2002, to $6.8 billion in 2009.  Chinese Premier desires that
volume of this trade should be brought to the level of $10
billion on earliest possible timeframe. For the betterment of
economic cooperation and to facilitate the currency swap,
both countries agreed to open the branches of ICBC in
Pakistan and China. The Premier Wen said that, “China
welcomes Pakistan’s effort to capitalize on the preferential
terms in the bilateral FTA to expand exports to China. The
Greater financial cooperation between China and Pakistan
will provide a strong support for in-depth and sustained
growth of our economic and trade ties.”
He said that, “his country would increase investment in
Gwadar Port. The port currently administered by Port of
Singapore Authority (PSA), was constructed by China in
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2006. Chinese Premier promised that his country would
remove the trade barrier between Pakistan and China by
improving trade infrastructure and promoting Pakistani
exports to his country. Earlier Prime Minister Yousaf Raza
Gillani, appreciated Chinese investment in Pakistan,
especially in the energy sector of Pakistan. Prime Minister
Gillani said that, “We would encourage Chinese companies
to consider investments in the energy sector, which assures
certain returns. Our energy requirements are expected to
increase from 20,000MWs to more than 160,000MWs by the
year 2030.”
In fact, Pakistan is not a resource deficient country, but
problem lies with the technical expertise, infrastructure
development, and availability of capital.  Today, apart from
huge amount of unexplored oil and gas, “Pakistan has 185
billion tonnes of coal reserves, which would be converted
into energy to satisfy Pakistan’s growing demand.”  Besides,
Pakistan welcomes Chinese experts for the exploration of its
oil and gas resources. Prime Minister assured Chinese
investors for special economic incentives like; “duty-free
import of plant and machinery, exemption from sales tax and
income tax.” In spite of a stiff resistance from New Delhi
and Washington, China has agreed to establish two nuclear
plants as part of the civil nuclear energy programme.  
Pakistan and China are already working for the development
of the Pak-China Trade Corridor along the Karakoram
Highway (KKH). In this regard, the highway is being
upgraded and lying of a railway track along the KKH is in
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progress. Upon development of this overland route, there
would be further boost to the economic relationship. Pakistan
is otherwise becoming a hub for the oil and gas from Central
Asia and Middle East. With the improvement of
communication infrastructure, oil and gas from these regions
can easily be transported to the Chinese territories either
through oil tankers or through an overland gas pipeline.
Premier Gilani assured his counterpart for the safety of
Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. He said, “Besides a
comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and the Joint Five
Year Economic Programme, we are now jointly
endeavouring to establish closer financial and banking sector
cooperation.” Chinese Premier also supported Pakistani point
of view on Kashmir issue. China has a clear stand that,
Kashmiri must get their right of self-determination as per UN
resolutions. China indeed, rejects all Indian assertions of
betraying Pak-China relationship and regional domination by
India. China does not support Indian case for a permanent
membership of UNSC. China also assured Pakistan for its
full supports on Pakistani position on the Afghan issue.
Pakistan and China are bounded in, an inalienable
relationship ever since the formal beginning of their
diplomatic relationship in early 1950s. Nevertheless,
Pakistan has more frequently served the U.S aims and
objectives, even more than its European partners have.
Nevertheless, it enjoyed a smooth relationship with China,
but rocky, complicated, full of mutual mistrust and
apprehensions with United States.   Chinese Premier has the
moral courage to laud the sacrifices of Pakistan while
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fighting against terrorism and extremism. This
acknowledgement and praise indeed, is in stark contrast to a
“cacophony of statements emanating out of Washington that
urge Pakistan to do more.” Therefore, the red carpet
reception for such a time tested friend and declaring the
“Friendship with China as a matter of pride for Pakistani
nation,” by Prime Minister Gilani was a true reflection of the
national sentiments.

Rating: 9.5/10 (4 votes cast)

Pak-China Relationship: Newer Horizons , 9.5 out of 10
based on 4 ratings

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