The rising China, Pakistan strategic cooperation

By: Moin Ansari

The strategic cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing is rising in a muti-faceted manner. The announced initiatives are in energy, dams, railsroads, roads, education, culture, and almost every other field possible. China continues to see value in continuing to build a mutually beneficial and long term relationship with Pakistan.

Chinese Pakistani Nexus map. The Trade between China and Pakistan consolidates a friendship as old as the Himalayas President Asif Ali Zardari has said that during the last one year Pakistan and China have identified more than 50 new initiatives for joint collaboration and signed more than three dozen MoUs. He said this during an interview with a Chinese newspaper held at the Presidency.

He said the world admires the all round development China has achieved. Being a longstanding friend, Pakistan is naturally keen to learn from the Chinese experience. However, the extent and depth of political and diplomatic relations have not been fully reflected in our economic ties, said the president.

The president there was a lot to learn from the Chinese model of economic development particularly the model adopted in its provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong. The progress made by China in agriculture particularly in hybrid seed technology and optimal utilization of water is something that can be emulated in other countries as well, said Zardari.

While responding to a question about his visits to China, the president said that during all his visits he focused on familiarizing himself with the Chinese experience of growth and development.

‘I think there is a great deal Pakistan can learn from the Chinese experience and its development model,’ he said. ‘The goodwill must act as a precursor for adding greater commercial and cultural content to the economic and public diplomacy between the two countries,’ the president added.

The foundations of a strong friendship with China were laid by the visionary policies of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and he played a pioneering role in building this strategic cooperative relationship, said Zardari.

‘The real challenge is how to actualize the great potential of economic cooperation between the two countries. The trajectory of future relationship is clear. The two countries will continue to cooperate for promotion of global and regional peace, advancement in the science and technology, improvement in the living standards of our respective people and fight against environmental degradation. This relationship will grow stronger and stronger with each passing year. We have resolved to take this partnership to greater heights,’ the president observed.

When asked about Pakistan’s stance over the situation in Xinjiang province, the president said the Government of Pakistan fully supports the Chinese Government’s efforts to maintain social stability, peace and ethnic harmony in Xinjiang and indeed throughout China. ‘We fully support the Chinese Government’s efforts to promote the development of Xinjiang Autonomous Region as part of China’s Western Development Strategy.’

Pakistan fully supports China’s policy of social harmony and development which is producing great results for all Chinese people.

We also believe that with the unprecedented economic development in China all ethnic groups would stand to gain, he added.

Let us look at a few examples of Pakistani-Chinese cooperation–The Heavy Mechanical Complex, the The Advanced Electronic Complex, the Kamra Aeronautical Complex, the Karakoram Highway, Gwader Sea Port, 50 new dams, The Chinese University in Pakistan, the six Chinese industrial estates in Pakistan,  the new Shipyards at Gwader, Port Qasim, Karachi, Chasnupp 1,Chasnupp 2, Chasnupp 3, Chasnupp 4, Chasnupp 5 and Chasnupp 6.