Li Keqiang in Pakistan
Pakistan and China are not just friendly neighbours, they have a friendship that has withstood the test of time many times over. The new Chinese Premiere Li Keqiang is on a two-day visit to Pakistan to reinforce the same. While there are some who have pointed out the timing of his visit, saying that it has been scheduled at a time when Pakistan is in between a caretaker and a formal government, the visiting premiere has rejected the notion. Instead, he has stressed that his visit proves how important Pakistan is to China, that no matter which government in Pakistan is in power, China will stand by its side. Pakistan, on his arrival, awarded Nishan-e-Pakistan to the Chinese leader, stressing how important his visit is considered by Islamabad.
That is all sweet music to the ears. However, Pakistan has real problems that it needs to find solutions of, as does China. And this is where their friendship can really help each other. Pakistan’s energy problems can benefit from China’s extensive experience in handling large scale projects in hydro, coal and renewable energy solutions. China can also help Pakistan on the economic front by helping it create an economic corridor from Gwadar all the way through to the North of Pakistan to China. And when it is completed, Pakistan can also include China in Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. Though some of these projects have come under discussion in the present visit – a total of 11 agreements and MoUs were signed, chief among them being long-term economic corridor plan, maritime cooperation and satellite navigation – the distinguished leader wanted to enhance mutual trade to US15$ billion dollars from the current US12$ billion dollars. Premiere Li also promised his country’s unflinching support to Pakistan’s territorial integrity.
Seeing that Pakistan’s incumbent prime minister is going to be Nawaz Sharif, PM Li also had a meeting with him. He invited Mr Sharif to visit China and discussed matters of mutual benefit. In his meeting with the COAS Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, terrorism was the topic of discussion.
Relations between countries are not built on rhetoric or hollow claims, they depend on actions taken to help each other, often under difficult circumstances. While leaders of both countries have pledged to stand united, help each other economically, and help bring peace to the world together, what they have to do now is to fulfil these claims. Pakistan specifically needs assistance in energy generation as it is hurting its industries and routine life badly. Other than that, mutual cooperation in trade, terrorism, defence and nuclear energy fields will certainly strengthen the bond of friendship that the two countries have nurtured over the decades.
