China, Pakistan to go ahead with trade corridor

[Cyberian]

The China-Afghanistan border is not really an effective option for our important trade to pass through. Plus, who knows who will be ruling Afghanistan in a year or two.

Gwadar makes the most sense.

I hear Pakistan-China border only opens one month a year due to heavy snow, ice in the other 11 months. That's not going change anytime soon. Mountains will have to be moved to make the trade corridor practical.

 

[Kompromat]

Gentlemen we are righting history for our upcoming generations here. Toast to our alliance, interests, *ambitions* and friendship

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

I hear Pakistan-China border only opens one month a year due to heavy snow, ice in the other 11 months. That's not going change anytime soon. Mountains will have to be moved to make the trade corridor practical.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

We are already operating the highest railway line in the entire world, in Tibet Autonomous Region.

Qinghai–Tibet Railway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This railway operates at a height of 5000 meters above sea level, and passes through many areas covered with "permafrost".

 

[Kompromat]

I hear Pakistan-China border only opens one month a year due to heavy snow, ice in the other 11 months. That's not going change anytime soon. Mountains will have to be moved to make the trade corridor practical.

Technology can overcome such hurdles. Look at Alps.

 

[Armstrong]

You got it buddy.

As for the topic, do you think that Chinese will spend billions of dollars and NOT be serious about something?

If it's billions of dollars you can bet we'll be serious about it.

I think China is very serious about this & realizes that if it goes through that it not only provides an Economic Rebirth to their Ally - Pakistan but also the ability to effectively trounce & render redundant any & all measures to contain China by using some Nations in South Asia & others in the Far-East to threaten the stability of China's Maritime Routes.

However at the same time China also realizes that the Security Challenges that Pakistan faces right now aren't probably going to go away in the next decade or two & whereas the back of the Separatists Insurgency has been pretty much broken in Baluchistan they do have a tendency of showing their ugly face every now & then; which means China would approach this with caution & pragmatism & at the same time continue on with her, whats it called, 'Strings of Pearl' strategy !

 

[Edevelop]

Where there is a will, there is a way.

We are already operating the highest railway line in the entire world, in Tibet Autonomous Region.

Qinghai–Tibet Railway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This railway operates at a height of 5000 meters above sea level, and passes through many areas covered with "permafrost".

I'm hearing we are going for 200 km tunnel in Khunjerab Pass for Rail Line. Its costly, but makes more sense.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

The Karakoram Highway was already completed since the 1970's right? The elevation there is 4600 metres above sea level.

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway has been operating since 2006, with an elevation of 5000 metres above sea level.

Permafrost is a problem, sure. And you need to equip the trains with oxygen supplies, in case of emergency. But certainly not impossible, not at all.

You can ride the Qinghai-Tibet Railway line yourself and see, it's very feasible.

I'm hearing we are going for 200 km tunnel in Khunjerab Pass for Rail Line. Its costly, but makes more sense.

That does make sense. We need to work WITH the geography, not against it. We should always try to follow the "path of least resistance".

 

[M. Sarmad]

I hear Pakistan-China border only opens one month a year due to heavy snow, ice in the other 11 months. That's not going change anytime soon. Mountains will have to be moved to make the trade corridor practical.

You hear wrong my friend . The Khunjerab pass (Pakistan-China border crossing) is open for trade and tourism traffic from April to November/december usually (officially opens on April 1 ) . Even during winter , when the pass is closed for general traffic (due to snowfall) , trade does not stop completely .

The only problem is Atabad lake (the trade through Karakoram Highway has badly been disrupted due to the blockade and destruction caused by the landslide along the Hunza river forming a huge lake called Atabad Lake.) , But the good news is , tunnels are being constructed near Attabad and Ayeenabad to realign the KKH. The realignment work is likely to be completed in 2014, according to China Roads and Bridges Corporation (CRBC) officials, who are working on expansion and realignment of the KKH.

I'm hearing we are going for 200 km tunnel in Khunjerab Pass for Rail Line

Are you sure ?? Currently the longest railway tunnel in the world is almost 60 km long
Guangzhou Metro: Line 3

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

I'll wait till China officially announces it because we, Pakistanis have been dreaming about this Economic Corridor for at least a decade so far.

The feasibility reports have not even been completed as of yet and they won't be for another couple of years. Moreover, the previous 2 Pakistani Governments also made much noise about this and nothing happened. On the other side however, China has become the second largest economy in the world without having to go through Pakistan even a little bit.

Can't see why China would want to spend so much on Pakistan when they can reach the better developed Iran and their ports through Afghanistan probably much more quickly and easily.

I'm not sceptical about this economic corridor, maybe it still have some challenges to overcome but the benefits for both countries are so obvious. I think China chose Pakistan instead of Afghanistan is because we truste more our all weather friend and it's not true that Afghanistan-Iran offer a quicker and easy access especially we have to cozy those Talibans

 

[Kompromat]

What India thinks is none of our business.

 

[Pakistanisage]

Great News. Love this development which will benefit two brotherly countries of Pakistan and China.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Look at this map.

Our border with Afghanistan is very badly positioned, and we have to travel through Afghanistan, and Iran too! We will have to pass through two countries, just to reach the Arabian sea.

Afghanistan can't be relied upon, they will either have an American puppet government or a Taliban government.

Iran is better, but it's no use if we have to pass through Afghanistan. Two countries doubles the risk.

Gwadar in Pakistan is the most realistic and feasible choice.

 

[Edevelop]

Are you sure ?? Currently the longest railway tunnel in the world is almost 60 km long
Guangzhou Metro: Line 3

Pakistan today said the proposed 3,000-km Sino-Pak economic corridor through Azad Kashmir would be a "game changer" and could also facilitate trade between India and China.

"The infrastructure projects of the corridor are a game changer in this region by bringing new opportunities to China, Pakistan and Central Asian republics and South Asia," Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, who led the Pakistani delegation at bilateral talks, told state-run CCTV in an interview.

"There can be trade between China and India through the economic corridor," he said without referring to India's concerns over the multi-billion-dollar project as it is being built in Azad Kashmir.

The corridor which includes a 200-km tunnel will link China's volatile Muslim Uygur-majority Xinjiang province which has witnessed a spate of terror attacks in recent times, with Pakistan's Gwadar port providing road access to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

India has conveyed its concerns to China which in turn went ahead arguing that it could bring about stability to Pakistan as it provides enormous economic benefits for the country and the region.

Iqbal took part in the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) with Deputy Chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission of China Zhang Xiaoqiang to discuss the infrastructure projects of the corridor as well as other projects between the two countries on the sidelines of Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain's ongoing visit to China.

Consensus has been arrived on all projects discussed at the meeting, Pakistan's state-run APP news agency reported.

The Pakistani President who went to China on his first foreign visit to highlight the close ties between the two countries was ceremonially welcomed by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

"Friendship with China is the most important pillar of our foreign policy and security policy," Hussain said.

Xi said that "the Chinese people cherish a profound friendship with the people of Pakistan.

China-Pak corridor in Azad Kashmir can facilitate Sino-Indian trade | Business Standard

 

[Armstrong]

Look at this map.

Our border with Afghanistan is very badly positioned, and we have to travel through Afghanistan, and Iran too! We will have to pass through two countries, just to reach the Arabian sea.

Afghanistan can't be relied upon, they will either have an American puppet government or a Taliban government.

Iran is better, but it's no use if we have to pass through Afghanistan. Two countries doubles the risk.

Gwadar in Pakistan is the most realistic and feasible choice.

Not to mention 96% of Pakistanis think that China is the friendliest country to Pakistan; so thats gonna reflect on a Government-to-Government Level too !

Survey findings: Pakistanis warmer towards India – The Express Tribune

 

[Edevelop]