Musharraf visits China

[Zeeshan S.]

China, Pakistan Reinforce Warming Ties

By DEAN VISSER, Associated Press Writer Mon Feb 20, 5:45 PM ET

BEIJING - China and Pakistan reinforced their steadily warming ties Monday, signing agreements on a range of issues — including defense and energy cooperation — just days after militants killed three Chinese engineers in Pakistan.

Chinese President
Hu Jintao called visiting Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf "an old friend of the Chinese people" after the two exchanged handshakes and broad grins in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Wednesday evening.

Hours earlier, Musharraf apologized to China — one of his country's main defense suppliers and trading partners — over the drive-by shootings of three Chinese engineers by tribal militants in Pakistan.

He said the incident brought "shame" on his country.

"The man in the street (in Pakistan) loves the Chinese people," Musharraf told China's parliament chief, Wu Bangguo, during the part of their Beijing meeting open to reporters.

Fifty suspects have been arrested.

Hu said China hoped Pakistan will ensure the safety of Chinese people in Pakistan — a presence likely to increase after the leaders and high-level delegations from both sides held closed-door meetings, then signed 13 agreements on a wide range of issues.

One of the first was on cooperation between their defense ministries.

In the part of their meeting open to media, Hu said his country would cooperate with Pakistan to combat the "three forces," a term by which China refers to terrorism, separatism and religious extremism.

As with all 13 agreements signed Monday, few details about the defense pact were immediately available.

The two countries already jointly build JF-17 Thunder fighter planes.

Another of the pacts covered energy cooperation.

China has helped Pakistan set up a nuclear power plant, and the two recently started work on a second in the country's east.

Another agreement was for China to provide Pakistan with $300 million in loans to buy Chinese goods.

In another, China agreed to help upgrade a highway that runs near its border in northern Pakistan and was badly damaged by last year's earthquake.

The two sides also signed a pledge to work together on quake research following the massive disaster that killed about 80,000 people and left more than 3 million homeless.

Musharraf's five-day visit to China marked the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

Just before arriving Sunday, Musharraf said China's growing influence makes it a vital force for Asian stability and development.

Other agreements signed Monday covered expanding economic ties, cooperation in health, joint work on family planning, a plan to boost two-way trade, meteorological research, fisheries, pesticide management, and an agreement for China to help Pakistan provide vocational training.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060220/ap_on_.../china_pakistan

 

[Sid]

It is interesting to note here that the Chinese have issued a commemorative postage stamp celebrating the 55th (I believe) anniversary of bilateral relationship between the two countries. This is a first for the Chinese state.

 

[Nasir]

Dude you know what is interesting? Read below.

Pakistan will stand by China against US ‘siege’, says Rashid

BEIJING: Pakistan will stand by China if the US ever tries to “besiege” it, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said. He said this while talking to a private television channel in Beijing on Wednesday.

Rashid said that President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to China will open new avenues of development and cooperation between the two countries in all sectors. Pakistan and China have signed 42 bilateral agreements during the president’s current visit, 13 of which have been reached at the government level and 27 are between the traders and entrepreneurs of both countries.

These accords are aimed at boosting cooperation in economy, defence, trade and the social sector. The information minister said that Pakistan and China are jointly manufacturing an F-17 thunder combat aircraft. He said that the test-flight of a second combat plane, an F-10, is scheduled for today (Thursday).

He said that Musharraf told the Chinese leadership that Pakistan wanted full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin, due to visit China next month, along with the Chinese leadership will help Pakistan acquire SCO membership. Cooperation of other SCO members – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – will also be sought, he said.

The president also expressed condolences for the killing of three Chinese engineers in Balochistan, he said. agencies

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...3-2-2006_pg7_50

 

[Zeeshan S.]

Its funny how our officials speak out and give supporting comments but they are often exaggerated. What can Pakistan really do if China ever gets in a siege? I doubt any thing. China is a lot more times capable of supporting itself, and Pakistan can't do much for China to relieve its siege the most would be to supply food, equipment, and that too with a fear that U.S doesn't bomb it.

 

[Tariq Iqbal]

Why are we pairing up with the Chinese? What the hell are they going to provide except for some third world technology?

 

[Spring Onion]

Originally posted by Tariq Iqbal@Feb 24 2006, 08:49 AM
Why are we pairing up with the Chinese? What the hell are they going to provide except for some third world technology?

[post=6173]Quoted post[/post]​

u need to spare time to know what both the countries can offer to each other by pairing?. first of all what u called "third world technology" is not that much third world. look at the JF-17 it can replace the existing F-16 has all the qualities to macth with the F-16s besides if we fix misiles and other ward heads its as aeefective as the jets. secondly what china can offer well its a mutual relationship as we can help china to reach warm waters and Central Asia states through Gwadar port so affectively Indian and US blocking move to block our as well as china's way into CARs. and in return china can stand beside us in any situation of hostility against us.

 

[Sid]

Our country and China have been in a 'strategic alliance' so to say since quite a while in their 55 year old relationship but what amazez me is the lack of people-to-people contact. All our governments ever talk about is, investment to be gotten from China in major sectors, co-operation in defense equipment and industries and other issues; but hardly ever have I heard a Pakistani government willing to promote Chinese culture, aesthetics while allowing more interaction between the people of the two countries!

How many Pakistanis know as to how many regions China is divided in to and can tell the names of the provinces by heart? How many Pakistanis know what are the two major dialects of the Chinese language in use in China? How many of us know about the Qing and Ming dynasties? How many know what Mao was to China?

I grew up knowing more about the US and Britain than about China. We all certainly know who Abraham Lincoln was or what feats Winston Churchill accomplised. That is just sad. We should focus more on people-to-people contact bcause if the Chinese people start feeling for Pakistanis at a personal level and vice versa; nothing could stengthen our bilateral relationship more than that.

 

[Spring Onion]

Originally posted by Sid@Feb 25 2006, 03:25 AM

How many Pakistanis know as to how many regions China is divided in to and can tell the names of the provinces by heart? How many Pakistanis know what are the two major dialects of the Chinese language in use in China? How many of us know about the Qing and Ming dynasties? How many know what Mao was to China?

I grew up knowing more about the US and Britain than about China. We all certainly know who Abraham Lincoln was or what feats Winston Churchill accomplised. That is just sad. We should focus more on people-to-people contact bcause if the Chinese people start feeling for Pakistanis at a personal level and vice versa; nothing could stengthen our bilateral relationship more than that.

[post=6215]Quoted post[/post]​

sid u right we should have more peopple-t-people conatcts.as far as knowing about China and its regions well i agree with u that it should not had been like this, i think 55 years of Pak-China relations r enough to look into this aspect and now its time for the think tank to focuse more on people-to-people contact. the policy makers should look into introducing information abt China in textbooks, it will certainly help in creating more understanding

 

[Nasir]

China and Pakistan Vow to Develop Stronger Ties

<div class='bbimg'></div>

Chinese President Hu Jintao, right, and Pakistan&#39;s President Pervez Musharraf attend a welcome ceremony inside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, February 20, 2006. Photo: Reuters

China and Pakistan reinforced their ties Monday, signing agreements on a range of issues ¡ª including defense and energy cooperation ¡ª just days after militants killed three Chinese engineers in Pakistan.

Chinese President Hu Jintao called visiting Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf "an old friend of the Chinese people" after the two exchanged handshakes and broad grins in Beijing&#39;s Great Hall of the People on Wednesday evening.

Hours earlier, Musharraf apologized to China ¡ª one of his country&#39;s main defense suppliers and trading partners ¡ª over the drive-by shootings of three Chinese engineers by tribal militants in Pakistan.

He said the incident brought "shame" on his country.

"The man in the street (in Pakistan) loves the Chinese people," Musharraf told China&#39;s parliament chief, Wu Bangguo, during the part of their Beijing meeting open to reporters.

Fifty suspects have been arrested.

Hu said China hoped Pakistan will ensure the safety of Chinese people in Pakistan ¡ª a presence likely to increase after the leaders and high-level delegations from both sides held closed-door meetings, then signed 13 agreements on a wide range of issues.

During their meeting, Hu said China would cooperate with Pakistan to combat the "three forces," a term by which China refers to terrorism, separatism and religious extremism.

Hu also said that the Chinese government and people value the traditional friendship with Pakistan and would like to take the 55th anniversary of the bilateral ties as an opportunity to raise the strategic partnership to another height.

Musharraf also briefed Hu on Pakistan-India relations and the two leaders exchanged views on the South Asia situation.

Hu said China would like Pakistan and India to improve relations by means of dialogue and resolve disputes like the Kashmir issue through negotiations.

As with all 13 agreements signed Monday, few details about a defense pact were immediately available.

The two countries already jointly build JF-17 Thunder fighter planes.

Another of the pacts covered energy cooperation.

China has helped Pakistan set up a nuclear power plant, and the two recently started work on a second in the country&#39;s east.

Another agreement was for China to provide Pakistan with &#036;300 million in loans to buy Chinese goods.

In another, China agreed to help upgrade a highway that runs near its border in northern Pakistan and was badly damaged by last year&#39;s earthquake.

The two sides also signed a pledge to work together on quake research following the massive disaster that killed about 80,000 people and left more than 3 million homeless.

Musharraf&#39;s five-day visit to China marked the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

Just before arriving Sunday, Musharraf said China&#39;s growing influence makes it a vital force for Asian stability and development.

Other agreements signed Monday covered expanding economic ties, cooperation in health, joint work on family planning, a plan to boost two-way trade, meteorological research, fisheries, pesticide management, and an agreement for China to help Pakistan provide vocational training.

Bilateral trade rose to US&#036;4.25 billion last year from US&#036;3.06 billion in 2004; and the two countries aim to lift two-way trade to US&#036;8 billion by 2008.

http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/811/2006/02/26/53@55346.htm