Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood Khan said on Saturday that Pakistan would welcome China’s help in the development of the Gwadar port.
Talking to journalists, the Pakistan envoy termed the Gwadar port the gateway to the Middle East and Indian Ocean economies.
“China has already built the Gwadar port. We want to develop it further. We will welcome a role by China in the future,” he said.
He said that Pakistan needed to develop rail, road, air and communication networks. “When this network is fully operational from Gwadar to Khunjerab, Urumqi, Beijing and Shanghai, it will give alternative choices to China for its trade with the Middle East and Europe. This alternative route will be much shorter than the one passing through the Malacca Straits,” he said.
Khan said that Pakistan and China had a common goal of making South Asia a prosperous region. “The two countries have common interests. Both want peace and stability in the region. Both want this region to prosper,” he said.
He said that traditionally Pakistan and China had collaborated closely in the UN and multilateral forums. “We support each other on issues like the UN reform, disarmament, climate change, food security and international financial matters,” he said.
He mentioned that Pakistan and China were cooperating in many sectors, including energy, telecommunications, agriculture and infrastructure. “China’s top brands are already in Pakistan. We are working on enhanced and assured inflows of Chinese investment in Pakistan”, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 14th, 2011.
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@Saeed: Pakistan and its people have been suffering due to external and internal interferences and bad decisions imposed on them. When I hear innocent people suffering in their own homeland it is very painful. We all need to take responsibility and make this nation better. We all need to work together to get rid of insanity in Pakistan. That change can only come if we all act and do little acts of kindness. These little actions, a little progress can certainly make a big difference in a county of 170 million people. So Saeed keep up the good work, and one day this nation will certainly rise.
@saeed: For your info, i am not in Orissa, nor have i ever been there !!! I live in London, UK. By the way, have you been to Orissa??? Your reply is rather evasive as to the facts presented and questioned by me ! Have you got any answers in regards to them?? This is not about India and Pakistan, but a infrastructure and further developments and crazy grand schemes which are simply not practical, can actually grasp to that reality, or is it too much to ask???? No wonder you people are living on Aid, as it shows your lack of conducting responsive dialogue or being in position to acknowledge the facts as they stand !!!!
@saeed: "you dont have to worry about the money..once this corrupt goverment will go and Inshallah Imran khan will come..each every pakistani will give money from its pocket the only thing we need is a honest leadership." So,you think that if honest man like imran khan will come to the power he will change the entire taxation system in india or he will make everyone pay their taxes.You know we also have one of the most honest PM of all time in india Mr.Manmohan singh and still this is the most corrupt government in the history of india.No other government looted india so much before.So,by saying that change in the leadership will suddenly change everything and will give your economy horse speed is just day dreaming.Economies don't get uprising just by some politician.real orce behind is the people. Why you are saying that change in the leadership will ultimately change pakistan is because you want to blame everything on political leadership and don't want to blame yourself or people of pakistan who voted for this government. And politicians are 1000 fold magnified view of our selves.My point is pakistan (or any other country) will remain same until and unless we change ourself. noone can help you if you can't help yourself. So,please don't count on your leadership change miracle,it will backfire
@saeed: Firstly you need to spell my user name correctly, and than start barking the BS !!!! Tell me who is running this port at present and why??? Next why have the locals not been consulted in any process during its development, as it is in their land?? If you think that the Chinese are simply going to just turn up and spend their own money to expand it, well you really need some help than!!! In regards to road networks to the port from main land China, have you even considered the costs in regards to logistics of such operation, and can pakistan really provide safe passage through its territory, as at present it does not seem so!!! You people are just a ungrateful lot living on US funds and dreaming of Chinese relations, but i don't see any funds coming from China!!!!! Remember, China is not a provider of anything for free, but an Trader, and always willing to do business, not Aid!!
@Hijdayfunder...Why so much pain and irritation on this news from an indian.??..I wil tell you why..this strategic partnership of pakistan and china is the biggest worry for India and USA..as as soon as china completed this gawadar port suddenly the situation in balochistan got worsen with the blessing of indian supported few baloch traitors living in afghanistan..Now I will tell you what will happen in the future instead of indian interference...pakistan will give china the strategic depth for its all of trade with IRAN, Mideast and Africa..as soon as these infrastructure projects of widening the karakuram highway and motorway from gawadar to ratodero and many more will get complete..there will be hell of a investment in this region of gawadar. as now china have to to a his import export from the sea all the way coming around the fareast and south asia then to this region..you dont have to worry about the money..once this corrupt goverment will go and Inshallah Imran khan will come..each every pakistani will give money from its pocket the only thing we need is a honest leadership..the pain and discomfort in your comment is so eveident that you just wanted pakistan in any way not to progress..a sick and obsessed mind..Future is bright for this nation..we dont need fools like you to tell us not to think of any development..now go ahead and cry with your ssame old comments of aid, money, USA as all these make our resolve mreo stronger to make this beautifull country move forward..
Where is the Money?? Who is going to pay for this development?? Not China for sure!! Stick to what you have, as even that you can not manage or operate with any efficiency, let alone talk about further development!!! These people really need to start being bit more realistic, and get out of that illusionary mind frames!!!