Pakistan is one of the first groups of countries that have recognised China. On May 21, 1951, the two countries officially established their diplomatic relations. Since then, China and Pakistan have witnessed smooth development of friendly and neighbourly relations as well as mutually beneficial co-operation.
This year both countries are celebrating as a year of friendship to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations. The Pakistan-China friendship is unique in many ways in the recent history of state-to-state relations.
Today,Pakistan-China relations cover a wide canvas of growing co-operation in strategic, security, defence, economic, science and technology, culture, education, civil society fields. The trade between the two countries has hovered around US $10 billion. China has constructed US $20 billion projects in Pakistan, while US $14 billion are in pipeline,the Chinese companies have decided to invest US $15 billion over the next five years in Pakistan's energy, infrastructure, telecom, mineral exploration and banking sectors. The two countries have signed 300 Agreements,Contracts and Memoranda of Understandings on close co-operation during the last ten years (2001 - 2011).
Although Pakistan and China have an all-encompassing strategic relationship, until late 1990s bilateral co-operation remained focused on political and defence issues. Economic relations ranked relatively low, despite the enormous potential for growth in this sphere.Pakistan and China both felt the need to enhance economic co-operation in order to provide sustenance to their strategic partnership in a fast changing regional and global environment, and since 1999 the two countries have shown resolve and determination to catch up and make up for the lost opportunities in the economic sphere. The two sides have undertaken several mega infrastructural projects in Pakistan such as the Gwadar Deep Sea Port, the Coastal-Highway linking Karachi with Gwadar, upgrading of the Karakoram Highway, the Chashma nuclear power plants, and a number of hydro-power project.
China provides economic aid and military equipment to Pakistan, which is very important for Pakistan due to its border and relations with India. India - China relationship during sixties provides a good opportunity for Pakistan to get all type of assistance from China. Any change in Chinese policy and economic conditions has great impact on Pakistan's economy, as China is the major financer of Pakistan's military and development projects like Ballistic Missiles, JF-17 Thunder aircrafts, Gawader Port etc. Any decrease in China's economic growth level can reduce the economic and military aid towards Pakistan. Pakistan needs China's help in developing the co-operation in economic projects like trade and energy.
Pakistan needs energy resources and nuclear power plants from China as Pakistan is facing the energy crises in the country. China can provide these kinds of energy resources to counter the energy crises in Pakistan with infrastructural development and economic aid. Chinese government has singed some sort of infrastructural development projects with Pakistan, which will benefit both countries in increasing trade and water management resources. High development percentage of China has produced a positive effect on Pakistani markets by providing cheaper goods than to American and European manufacturers. China's products are very much popular in Pakistani markets due to their prices and different choices in quality as according to people's need.
Today, apart from huge amount of unexplored oil and gas, "Pakistan has 185 billion tonnes of coal reserves, which would be converted into energy to satisfy Pakistan's growing demand." Besides, Pakistan welcomes Chinese experts for the exploration of its oil and gas resources. Pakistan= assured Chinese investors for special economic incentives like; "duty-free import of plant and machinery, exemption from sales tax and income tax." In spite of a stiff resistance from New Delhi and Washington, China has agreed to establish two nuclear plants as part of the civil nuclear energy programme.
Pakistan and China are already v for the development of the Pak-China Trade Corridor along the Karakoram Highway (KKH). In this regard, the highway is being upgraded and lying of a railway track along the KKH is in progress. Upon development of this overland route, there would be further boost to the economic relationship. Pakistan is otherwise becoming a hub for the oil and gas from Central Asia and Middle East. With the improvement of communication infrastructure, oil and gas from these regions can easily be transported to the Chinese territories either through oil tankers or through an overland gas pipeline.
The friendship between China and Pakistan had beyond the govt relationship,it widespread to common people of both countries. So, no matter who becomes leader of China and Pakistan,they would surely follow the will of common people. We should learn about culture of each other in next decades,because we both have abundant historical culture heritage. Pakistan represent the combine culture of Islamic and Indus civilisation. We can make an example, the cultural exchange will benefit both side instead of hurt each other.
(The writer is Chairman, Pak-China Culture and Business Society)
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