The Pakistani president's visit to China
- By Sajjad Malik
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E-mail China.org.cn, February 17, 2014
China has also shown keenness to promote commercial ties and has made a lot of investments in fields including the telecoms sector. According to foreign ministry of Pakistan, economic cooperation has expanded significantly in recent years. Key structures for economic cooperation are in place in the form of the Joint Economic Commission, Economic Cooperation Group, Joint Energy Working Group and a Joint Investment Committee. Through these mechanisms and others, the bilateral trade volume has exceeded US$12 billion, with Pakistan's exports increasing by 48 percent.
During Sharif's visit, the two sides agreed to set up an Economic Corridor to link western China to Pakistan's south-western port of Gawadar. Located at the mouth of the Arabian Sea and astride from the strategic Persian Gulf, the important deep water port provides the shortest route for western Chinese regions to the oil rich Gulf States and the rest of the Middle Eastern region. During the president's visit, the second meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the Economic Corridor will be convened on Feb. 18. Ahsan Iqbal, minister for planning, development and reform, will lead the Pakistani side during the meeting. The JCC will decide on the implementation of mutually agreed projects, which are still at a very early stage but have vast potential for the two countries to develop their regions and built stronger ties.
President Hussain's visit is being billed as "another milestone" in the traditionally tested and ever expanding relationship, often termed as higher than the mighty Himalayas. But there are some important issues which should be addressed as the two countries strive for more mutually beneficial ties. First, it is important for them to concentrate on the cultural aspect of relations. They can do this by promoting people to people contacts, exchange programs, language learning facilities, links between universities, media visits and cooperation among think tanks. They should also establish easy visa regimes to promote tourism. Second and most important from the Chinese perspective is that Pakistan should try to address serious concerns about extremism and militancy, which are not only a security threat to Pakistan but also to China and rest of the region.
The writer is Pakistani journalist and analyst.
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