Pakistan and China may enter a civil nuclear partnership and there is a strong indication that an agreement to this effect will be signed between the two countries during President Asif Ali Zardari’s first state visit to China starting from Tuesday.
Before embarking on his four-day trip, President Zardari was quoted by China’s official Xinhua as saying, “I’m looking forward to visiting China … I am hoping to remind the leadership of the world how close our relationship is.”
Zardari who arrived in Beijing with a high level delegation, is expected to sign a range of agreements with Beijing during his four-day visit, which will focus on strengthening strategic, economic and cultural ties between the two nations.
He has a number of issues to discuss with Chinese leadership and some of them include seeking help for his country’s embattled economy and the expansion of its nuclear energy industry. “We have a lot of cultural ties, friendly ties, but that is not properly depicted by our economic relationship,” he told Xinhua, as he praised Pakistan’s increasingly powerful and prosperous Asian neighbour.
He is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other top officials today (Wednesday). “China is the future of the world. A strong China means a strong Pakistan,” Xinhua quoted Zardari as saying.
His comments come as Islamabad’s alliance with Washington in the “war on terror” is falling on rocky ground partly because of Pakistan’s inability to hunt down Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters based in its tribal belt. China has long been one of Pakistan’s closest political and economic partners, with Beijing looking to Islamabad as a counterbalance to regional rival India.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s ambassador to China Masood Khan has said that a civil nuclear pact is expected between China and Pakistan during President Zardari’s maiden visit to China. Talking to Geo TV, Masood Khan said both countries would ink several agreements in the field of technology, agriculture, minerals and free trade agreement (FTA).
Khan said the president would also sign a new protocol of free trade in which permission for more trade will be granted. To a question on civil nuclear pact, Khan said, “Both countries have always supported the peaceful use of civil nuclear energy, adding agreement is expected in this connection.”
He said Zardari’s four-day visit to Beijing would be a milestone in the bilateral relationship “which have matured into comprehensive strategic partnership” between the two sides. Khan said the two countries had “exemplary friendly relations” and the top leadership is committed to further deepen the “time-tested” ties.
Earlier, on his arrival the president was given a warm welcome by the Chinese authorities. He was received by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue and senior Chinese officials as well as the officials of Pakistan embassy at the airport. Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik, Secretary Foreign Affairs Salman Bashir, Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood Khan were also present on the occasion.
The president was presented a guard of honour. The formal welcome ceremony for the President will be held today (Wednesday) at the Great Hall of the People, where he will be received by Chinese President Hu Jintao.
China had last week said that it was looking forward to and welcome Zardari’s visit to the country. China expects Zardari’s visit to deepen bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said. The president’s visit will mark yet another important step forward in reinforcing the all weather friendship between the two countries and open up new avenues for bilateral cooperation.
Bilateral trade between the two sides is now over $7 billion and both sides are committed to achieve a trade target of $15 billion by 2011. Pakistan-China Joint Investment Company, established in 2007, is geared to promote joint ventures and investments.
Back to back engagements of the president also include meetings with a number of Chinese business executives, heads of various financial institutions and corporate leaders. The focus of these interactions will be on wooing the Chinese investors to take advantage of Pakistan ‘s conducive investment climate and trade opportunities.
Both sides will sign a number of agreements, MOUs and protocols to propel bilateral cooperation in different sectors. A Joint Statement will also be issued at the conclusion of the president’s state visit.