Evaluating Hu’s Pakistan Visit

The POST, Sun, December,3, 2006.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

During his recent visit President Hu Jintao stressed in no uncertain terms that Chinese people value their friendship with Pakistan. Most observers have described visit as a landmark visit which could take the Sino-Pak relations ties to new heights. After the formal talks the leadership of the two countries asserted that they would make concerted efforts to further deepen their strategic ties through increased cooperation in political, economic, defense, energy and diplomatic fields. The recent visit has resulted in the signing of no less than18 agreements and MoUs including a landmark free trade pact that could triple bilateral trade to $15 billion within five years.

While there is no doubt that over the years many factors facilitated the strengthening of their relationship including the Chinese assistance in many major projects, past history of cordial relations, no clash of interests, no let downs by either side, regular high level visits and frequent mutual consultations etc., the emphasis this time was to make an attempt to raise the economic ties to the same level as the political relationships. However this does not imply that the political relationship have in any way downgraded or not accorded appropriate attentions.

President Hu Jintao’s address to the Pakistanis and his speech at Shalimar garden (Lahore) are reflective of importance attached to close friendship with Pakistan. While we are used to hearing phrases like ‘all weather friendship’ and friendship is higher than Himalayas and deeper than oceans, new phrase that china can leave gold but not Pakistan-China friendship adequately reflect the strength of our relationship. 

In addition to the growing economic engagement and ongoing cooperation in defense sector other areas that are likely to see increased Chinese linkages include oil and gas, mining, engineering, automobile, infrastructure development, information technology, telecommunication, energy, financial and agriculture sectors. Undoubtedly it appears that the current visit of the Chinese President mainly focused on how to increase and solidify economic interaction between the two countries.

An eminent Islamabad based observer stressed that China seem to have decided ‘to make Pakistan economically sound and covert it as a Chinese business hub in South Asia’. In this connection the economic zone that is going to be established at Manga (Punjab) is frequently mentioned.  So far the Chinese investment has been somewhat unimpressive and it is expected that this zone would attract Chinese investment especially that of the private sector which has hitherto have been somewhat shy. It needs to be mentioned that this type of economic zone is first of its kind established by the Chinese outside China.

It is imperative that the Pakistani businessmen should capitalize on the atmosphere that has been created by the recent visit and make concerted efforts to increase trading interaction. While the two governments have further facilitated the advent of cordial and friendly environment, it is up to the entrepreneurs to further solidify commercial and economic ties between the two nations. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which is likely to be operative by July 1, 2007 would provide enormous opportunities to rapidly increase our exports in a big way.

Apart from measures aimed to strengthening economic relations, three other areas also deserve comments. These areas are defense, people to people contacts and energy. According one report China is already involved in more than 100 ongoing projects in Pakistan. Chinese involvement in many of the large ongoing projects such as second phase of Gawadar port, Chashma II, Sandak copper mines development, Gomal Zam dam, Lakhra coal mines and several oil and gas exploration schemes are of particular significance. In the past the major projects such as Karakoram Highway, Chashma-I nuclear power plant, machine and tool factory, several projects of Kamra were completed.

During this visit Pakistan Air Force signed a memorandum with Chinese aviation company CETC to jointly develop aircraft equipped with long range early warning radars. It is possible that these may be delivered soon to Pakistan. The collaboration with air force is not new. Already PAF is collaborating with another Chinese aviation company to jointly produce JF Thunder and it is expected that Pakistan would get 8 aircrafts next year. Earlier Pakistan and china collaborated in manufacturing a trainer jet Karakoram 8.  Defense cooperation between Pakistan and China has indeed a long history.

Apart from contributing substantively to Pakistan Defense Production the Chinese have also supplied arms to Pakistan periodically. With the imposition of arms embargo on Pakistan by the US in 1965 along with the subsequent disillusionment with the Americans, the Pakistanis were compelled to explore alternatives sources of arms supplies. This led Pakistan to closer contacts with the Chinese. Since then the Chinese have been regularly helping Pakistan with its military assistance both in terms of actual supply of arms and contributing substantively towards the development of its overall indigenous defense production.

In terms of encouraging people to people contacts not only a Chinese-Pakistan friendship center is going to be constructed in Islamabad but China is going to construct hospitals and schools in earthquake hit areas of Pakistan. In addition the Chinese have offered number of scholarships for the Pakistanis. Declaring the Xian as Twin City of Lahore was also a step in right direction for strengthening the bonds of friendship.

As far as energy area is concerned the Chinese have not only constructed Chasma I nuclear power plant but the work on Chashma II is already well underway. It would not be too far fetched to assume that the two countries are likely to further enhance their collaboration in the energy sector. In addition the two countries signed MoU for financial support and up gradation of Karakoram highway.

The well established friendship between China and Pakistan has always been a great source of peace and stability in the region. Since 1963 China and Pakistan relations continue to demonstrate, with a remarkable consistency, an enviable cordiality.  Despite the dramatic changes in the international and regional environments in the post cold war world, Sino-Pakistan relations have not really registered any major setback. Frequent assertions of mutual trust and confidence coupled with the convergence of national interests and regional situation seem to have facilitated the positive growth. Despite the difference in their political systems and some differences in foreign policy pursuits, the relations continued to grow over the years.

While the current visit of Chinese President took place after a substantive gap but by and large it has been fairly successful. Undoubtedly the latest visit by a Chinese leader has effectively removed the doubts which some people were entertaining because of its improved relationship with India. Each high level visit has further cemented ties between the two countries. President Hu’s recent visit is no exception. Not only it has further strengthened ties but has also given a boost in terms of cooperation to the areas that were not given hitherto the deserving attentions such as close economic interaction including the signing of FTA, agreement on the establishment of economic zone and Investments.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.