China's Zhu begins 4-day Pakistan visit<\/p>\n
ISLAMABAD (Reuters): Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji arrived
\nin Pakistan on Friday for a four-day visit which Pakistan hopes
\nwill cement close military and economic ties the two countries
\nhave enjoyed for half a century.<\/p>\n
Zhu was greeted by Pakistan's military ruler Gen. Pervez
\nMusharraf as he stepped off a China Air plane to a booming gun
\nsalute as schoolchildren waved the countries' flags.<\/p>\n
\"I am convinced this visit will further consolidate and
\nstrengthen the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan
\nand help to promote steadily the China-Pakistan partnership of
\nall-round cooperation,\" Zhu said in a statement on his arrival.<\/p>\n
\"History has proven that this friendship is not only in
\nconformity with the common aspiration and fundamental interests
\nof the two countries and two peoples, but also conducive to
\npeace, stability and development of the region,\" the statement,
\nquoted by the official APP news agency, said.<\/p>\n
Zhu visits Pakistan at the start of an 11-day, five-country
\ntrip that will take him to Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
But the trip does not include Pakistan's arch-rival India
\nwhere U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage began talks
\non Friday on Washington's global missile defense plan.<\/p>\n
The U.S. envoy is on an Asian tour to explain and win support
\nfor the Bush administration's strategic vision on missile
\ndefense, but he is not due to visit Pakistan.<\/p>\n
India was on Friday observing the third anniversary of its
\nnuclear tests which shook the global regime for nuclear
\ndisarmament and raised fears of a South Asian arms race.<\/p>\n
In response to the Indian tests, Pakistan conducted five tests
\nof its own on May 28, 1998, and one more on May 30.<\/p>\n
China is seen as a key supporter of Pakistan's nuclear and
\nmissile program though Islamabad and Beijing deny that their
\ncooperation has violated any international laws governing weapons
\nof mass destruction or transfer of missile technology.<\/p>\n
In November, the United States waived sanctions against China,
\nimposed over suspected sales of nuclear-capable missile
\ntechnology to Pakistan and Iran, in return for a Chinese pledge
\nto step up its curbs on sensitive exports.<\/p>\n
But the United States imposed sanctions on Pakistan and Iran
\nfor receiving help from Beijing.<\/p>\n
Pakistan has made it clear that the focus of Zhu's visit will
\nbe on economic issues and Islamabad will seek Beijing's help on
\ninfrastructure projects.<\/p>\n
\"I would try my best to develop economic and commercial bonds
\nbetween China and Pakistan, and we will utilize premier Zhu
\nRongji's visit towards this end,\" Musharraf told state television
\non Thursday.<\/p>\n
Pakistani officials say they have identified half a dozen
\nprojects, such as the building of reservoirs, a new port and a
\ncoastal highway, in which China could help.<\/p>\n
Pakistan also expects Chinese help in science and technology,
\nsmall and medium industry and in military equipment production.
\nGovernment sources told Reuters the total cost of the joint
\nprojects could reach $500 million.<\/p>\n
Domestic media has urged Musharraf to use the visit to remove
\nirritants that developed between the two countries in the early
\n1990s after China found Islamic militants operating in its
\nprovince of Xinjiang.<\/p>\n
There was speculation the militants entered China from
\nPakistan with the support of some Pakistani groups.<\/p>\n
\"Pakistan should not take Zhu's visit for granted. The
\nrelationship with China is perhaps (Pakistan's) last one of any
\ndependability and importance and, therefore, needs nurturing,\"
\nanalyst M.A. Niazi wrote in The Nation daily.<\/p>\n
China and Pakistan strengthened military relations during the
\n1980s when Soviet troops invaded and occupied Pakistan's western
\nneighbor Afghanistan.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinas-zhu-begins-4-day-pakistan-visit-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}