President Hu's visit

Affirmation of Pakistan and China's commitment to an all-encompassing and all-weather 'higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the seas' relationship has been on display all through the recent visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Pakistan.
Deviating from protocol, President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, along with their wives and top officials, were present at the airport to receive the Chinese leader when he arrived in Islamabad last Thursday accompanied by Mrs Hu and a large entourage of officials and businessmen. In an unusual gesture of goodwill towards the people of Pakistan, who hold special affection and respect for China, President Hu made a televised address to the Pakistani nation on Friday.
Aside from some other much welcome assertions, he made two important points to lay to rest any apprehensions that people might have regarding the intentions of the emerging superpower. Said he, "China's development is peaceful, open, and co-operative in nature.
It will not pose a threat to anyone." And in an indirect reference to a Western campaign that seeks to paint Muslims as extremists and Islam as a faith that preaches violence and hate, he observed, "One should not make irresponsible remarks about the internal affairs of other countries simply because of differences any countries have.
And it is equally wrong to blame a particular civilisation, nation or religion for some problem or conflict in the world." This expression of understanding and sympathy for Muslim sensitivities is indicative of the importance the Chinese leadership attaches to a long-term partnership with this country and its people.
Pronouncing the resolve to take their strategic partnership to a "new level" the two sides signed as many as 18 agreements and memoranda of understanding, including a free trade agreement (FTA) that makes Pakistan only the second country - the other being Chile - to have such an agreement with China. Other accords cover a number of areas such as a five-year development programme for trade and economic cooperation, economic and technical cooperation, framework on security of financing for Sino-Pak bilateral cooperation between the China Export and Credit Insurance and Pakistan's Ministry of Finance, improvement of the Karakoram Highway, and exploration and development of Saindak East Ore Body.
Thirteen more agreements inked by private sector representatives include the proposed setting up of a Chinese industrial park in Lahore, the first of its kind outside China. President Hu also held out the assurance that his country would continue to help Pakistan with its nuclear power projects and offer assistance for new hydel and coal electricity generation projects.
The landmark free trade agreement promises to enhance the bilateral trade three-fold, taking it to the $15 billion mark over the next five years. Which should open up immense opportunities for our business and trade sectors. China having emerged as the manufacturing capital of the world is a big buyer of raw materials.
It has been attracting companies from all over the developed world due to its low cost of production and highly efficient labour standards. Steadily, the rising prosperity levels have also begun to create an increasing demand in the country for all sorts of consumer goods, inducing western retailers to set up shop in almost all the major Chinese cities. So far as trade between Pakistan and China is concerned, already the two nations have been according special treatment to each other.
But while Chinese trade and investments have flourished in this country, our business community has little to show for its gains on the other side. Unfortunately, our people don't work hard enough to explore markets, and most of those who do go to China do so to buy rather than to sell. Pakistan now has a unique opportunity to benefit from FTA because trans-border connectivity is already in place while work for its further expansion as well as construction of new transport routes and facilities is underway. The situation is good, so must be the plan to profit from it.