Gwadar gateway to Central Asia trade: Li

[Edevelop]

ISLAMABAD -

Pakistan and China Wednesday vowed to further consolidate their time-tested ties and signed a number of accords and MoUs, including the one for establishing an economic corridor that would provide air, rail and road connectivity to bolster bilateral trade between the neighbouring countries.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, on his first overseas trip since taking over in a once-in-a-decade power transfer in Beijing, congratulated Pakistan on its recent general election and hailed the countries’ long-standing friendship.
Prime Minister Li was deeply impressed when he saw incoming Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also joining the meeting he held with President Asif Ali Zardari and caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso shortly after arriving at the Presidency. He said he believed the impressive democratic transition of power following the May 11 elections will further strengthen Pakistan.
The meeting was followed by a special investiture ceremony in which President Zardari conferred Nishan-e- Pakistan on the visiting Chinese leader. The investiture was followed by a luncheon attended by galaxy of country’s civil, political and military elite before the Chinese Premier retired to his hotel only to resume a second round of activities in the Presidency in the afternoon.
The immaculately choreographed activities, the participation of leaders of all political parties, the substantive one on one and delegation level talks and the signing of a number of agreements and MoUs on trade, economic, science, technology and energy cooperation in the afternoon highlighted once again that Pak-China relations transcended political divide.
Later at a joint press stakeout, warmly welcoming Premier Li to ‘his second home’ - Pakistan, President Zardari said, “Our friendship with China is rooted in national consensus. This friendship is not only between the governments but also between the two peoples. It is also time tested.”
Premier Li linked growth in his country’s western part with economic improvement in Pakistan, saying the two sides wanted to create an “economic corridor” to boost development. Li said China’s desire to boost domestic demand and develop its western region would benefit Pakistan as it seeks to restart its foundering economy.
“Both sides are of the view that by connecting China’s development and Pakistan’s development, we can create a joint economic corridor linking the central and western parts of China and Pakistan,” he said. “This vision, once realised, will have great strategic significance for the development of China, South Asia, Asia and of peace and stability in the region and the improved lives of people in our region.”
Li described the Gwadar Port as a gateway to Central Asia trade.
Trade between China and Pakistan hit an annual $12 billion for the first time last year, according to Islamabad’s foreign ministry, and the two sides plan to raise this to $15 billion in the next two to three years. The MoU on cooperation for long-term plan on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was inked by Chinese National Development and Reform Commission Chairman Xu Shao Shi and Advisor to the Prime Minister Shahid Amjad Chaudhry.
An MoU on Maritime Cooperation, an agreement on Boundary Management System between China’s Xinjiang province and Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan area, and another agreement on border ports and their management system was signed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani.
Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng and Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division Secretary Shahzad Arbab signed the agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation and the handing over certificate of Seismographic Network. The MoU on cooperation in marine science and technology between the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) of China and Pakistan’s science and technology ministry was signed by SOA administrator and Secretary Akhlaq Ahmad Tarar.
An agreement between China Satellite Navigation Office (CSNO) and Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission for Cooperation (SUPARCO) was inked by CSNO Director Ran Chengqi and Major-Gen (r) Ahmed Bilal. An agreement on establishment of Confucius Institute at Karachi University was signed by Head of National Office for Chinese Language Xu Lin and KU VC Muhammad Qaiser. The other documents signed included Annual Blister Purchase Contract and Greige Fabric Contract.
President Zardari told the press conference, “We are delighted that Mr Li has chosen Pakistan among the first countries to visit after taking over as Premier of the State Council.” He said friendship with China has always been the cornerstone of our foreign policy.
Premier Li Keqiang recalled his visit to Pakistan 27 years back as part of the youth delegation and said his visit left deep impressions on him. He termed Pakistan-China friendship a valuable asset and said it was something not affected by change of a government and politics.
Zardari said the two countries discussed various connectivity proposals including fibre optics, road and rail links and energy projects. He said both the countries were determined to achieve the bilateral trade target of $15 billion and have agreed to speed up work on the projects identified under the Five-Year Development Programme. “We have also decided to press ahead with the second phase of negotiations on China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement and start work on the China-Pakistan Agriculture Demonstration Zone.”
Premier Li Keqiang said both sides have decided on a long term program – a strategic idea for the peace and stability of the world. He stressed that consolidating the strategic cooperation needs to be backed by concrete actions and mentioned the witnessing of agreements on economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Li said the purpose his visit to Pakistan was to cement friendship between the two countries, which has been nurtured by successive leaders and the people of the two countries. He hoped that regular meetings between the leaders would help deepen and further consolidate their ties.
Li arrived in the Pakistan capital under extra-tight security on the second leg of his first official trip since taking office in March. His plane was escorted by six air force fighter jets as it entered Pakistani air space. Security measures also included shutting down mobile phone networks across the city. He was met by President Zardari on the tarmac at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan Airbase.
At the lunch, where Nawaz Sharif was also present, Premier Li said China and Pakistan should make cooperation on power generation a priority. Nawaz, who is set to meet Li again today, will doubtless be hoping the visit leads to closer trade ties after his PML-N party swept to victory in the elections on a promise to revitalise the struggling economy and solve the energy crisis in shortest possible time.

Gwadar gateway to Central Asia trade: Li