China–Pakistan relations
began in 1950 when Pakistan was the first country to made official
diplomatic relations with the Republic of China . China and Pakistan have
developed an all-season friendship that is based on equality, brotherhood
and overall cooperation.
Diplomatic relations were established in 1950, military assistance began in
1966, a strategic alliance was formed in 1972 and economic co-operation
began in 1979. China has become Pakistan’s largest supplier of arms and its
third-largest trading partner. Recently, both nations have specially decided
to cooperate in improving Pakistan's civil nuclear power sectors and energy
and infrastructure sectors.
The recent visit of Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif to China was successful
as both countries signed almost 19 agreements on mega projects relating to
electricity generation and infrastructures. Pakistan and China inked 19
agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) mainly on projects
relating to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and electricity generation to
further boost bilateral ties.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his
Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang. On November 2014, Chinese government
announced that it will finance Chinese companies to build $45.6 billion
worth of energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of CPEC.
Documents quoted by Reuters show that China has promised to invest around
$33.8 billion in various energy projects and $11.8 billion in infrastructure
projects which will be completed by 2017 at most. The deal includes $622
million for Gwadar port, According to Reuters, under the CPEC agreement;
$15.5 billion worth of coal, wind, solar and hydro energy projects will add
10,400 megawatts of energy to the national grid of Pakistan.
The whole investment is being made by China,” said Amir Zamir, the spokesman
for Pakistan’s ministry of planning and development. “There is no loan or
aid for the energy projects, but pure investment by the Chinese,” he told
AFP. The two sides also signed a MoU on the outline of the Long-Term Plan of
CPEC, Capacity Building for Development of CPEC between NDRC of China and
Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform of Pakistan.
The decision by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to choose China as the
destination for his first foreign visit after coming to power was indeed a
prudent step that has successfully expanded the scope of Pakistan’s
strategic partnership with one of its most trusted allies. It is often said
that Pakistan’s relationship with China is “higher than the Himalayas” and
this visit has in many ways manifested these words into a tangible form in
the shape of several bilateral agreements that both countries have signed.
It is though such agreements and MOUs that we can clearly lay down a
comprehensive framework that outlines a roadmap to upgrade and expand the
economic, trade, cultural and strategic ties between Pakistan and China and
quite literally take it even “higher than the Himalayas”. Some of the
projects that would start as a result of these agreements most certainly
have the potential to positively revolutionize the bilateral trade activity
and also transform the entire economic landscape of this region. Or as the
prime minister put it quite aptly, be a “game-changer.”
Geo-strategic experts will tell you that Pakistan’s strategic location is
one of its many strength. A Glance at the world map is enough to give you an
indication of the Pakistan’s crucial geographic proximity. South and Central
South Asian States, the Oil rich Gulf Economies and an Economic giant like
China are all in its immediate vicinity making Pakistan the gateway that
connects this emerging region. While Karachi already provides access to
Arabian Sea, but all eyes are fixed on the port of Gwadar.
The state of art Port of Gwadar, being developed by the Chinese experts, has
the potential to emerge as the major trade gateway that connects this region
to the world. This will make Pakistan a hub of trade, commerce and economic
activity. It is therefore important that a road link be established linking
China to Gwadar and both premiers have agreed to start work on this project.
This project is indeed long term, but in the interim a further motorway
project has been agreed to link Pakistan’s federal capital Islamabad to its
trade capital Karachi through a new motorway that connects Lahore to
Karachi. Motorways that link Lahore to Islamabad and Peshawar are already in
place, and were built during PM Nawaz Sharif’s previous tenures. Similarly
bullet trains connecting various cities in Pakistan are also being started
which would not only provide quality transport links but also strengthen
Pakistan’s economy.
The outcomes of these agreements bring prosperity, remove the factor of
unemployment, remove poverty, per unit electricity cost reduce and proper
use of natural resources.
Suggestion: Pakistan should make the friendly relationship with china. The
big beneficiary is Pakistan because “These projects will be a source of
employment for over a million youth of Pakistan. Pak-China cooperation will
also create business opportunities for local and international investors,”
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will be of important economic,
diplomatic, security and strategic significance. It will open new areas for
mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and offer a new
force for their economic integration. It will also further expand the depth
and breadth of bilateral strategic cooperation and push their strategic
cooperative partnership to a new level.