Pakistan assures top security for Chinese investors

Beijing’s most senior diplomat holds talks with PM Shehbaz, FM Bilawal and COAS Gen Qamar

KARACHI:

Pakistan assured China’s most senior and influential diplomat on Wednesday that the Chinese investors in the country would be provided “unwavering security arrangements” besides competitive incentives and access to high-quality infrastructure.

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China (CPC) and director of the Central Committee on Foreign Affairs, arrived in Pakistan on a two-day visit and held separate meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Yang is a high-ranking Chinese diplomat, considered as the architect of Beijing’s 21st century foreign policy. As director of the foreign affairs committee, he has a prominent role in his country’s foreign relations. He reports directly to President Xi Jinping.

Yang is accompanied by China’s vice ministers for foreign affairs and commerce, vice chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and deputy secretary general of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Observers believe that the visit suggests that he may have come here with a special mission against the backdrop of recent developments. China is particularly concerned over the security of its nationals in Pakistan after the increased attacks against its interests and personnel.

Read more: Chinese nationals to get security boost

According to a statement from the Prime Minister Office, Shehbaz assured the Chinese delegation the Pakistan would continue to support Chinese investors with competitive incentives, access to high-quality infrastructure and unwavering security arrangements.

“The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhanced measures for safety, security and protection of the Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in the country,” the statement read.

“Pakistan stands ready to work closely with China for realising t shared vision of connectivity, prosperity and public well-being,” Shehbaz said. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to early completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

At the start of his trip, the senior Chinese diplomat held talks with Foreign Minister Bilawal. The two sides discussed entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, a statement issued by the Foreign Office said.

Yang also met with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. “During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, defence collaboration, progress on CPEC and regional security were discussed in detail,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The army chief, as per the statement, said that Pakistan valued China’s role in global and regional affairs and “we look forward to enhance the strategic partnership”. He reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to cooperate with its international partners for peace and stability in the region.

“The visiting dignitary thanked COAS for special measures taken for provision of safe and secure environment for Chinese personnel employed on various projects in Pakistan and efforts towards regional stability. He also assured to play his role for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels,” according to the military’s media wing.

A top Chinese diplomat expressed his gratitude to army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa for enhancing security for Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Gen Bajwa reiterated Pakistan's commitment to cooperate with international allies for peace and stability in the region.#etribune #news pic.twitter.com/fAEH6EaL8k

— The Express Tribune (@etribune) June 29, 2022

During the visit, according to the Prime Minister’s Office statement, both sides concluded a number of memorandum of understanding and protocols pertaining to bilateral trade and other matters.

The statement said that the Chinese side announced the rollover of $2 billion SAFE deposits and conveyed that China would export 200,000 metric tons of urea fertiliser to Pakistan. Both sides also finalised acceptance letter of 3,000 sets of solar home system.

The statement also said that both the sides concluded a memorandum of understanding on the scope of joint technical working group for realignment of the Karakoram Highway from Thakot to Raikot.

They also concluded protocols on the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for Rhodes Grass exported from Pakistan to China; and on Quarantine and Health Requirements for Buffalo Embryos to be exported from Pakistan to China, the statement added.

The statement said Prime Minister Shehbaz, in his meeting with Yang underscored the importance Pakistan attached to the strategic Mainline (ML)-I and other key projects, including Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), Babusar Tunnel and desalinisation plant in Karachi.

“The prime minister particularly thanked China for renewal of the RMB15 billion ($2.3 billion) syndicate facility,” the statement said, adding that he also thanked China for its support and assistance to Pakistan’s efforts towards preventing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

Also read; PM Shehbaz orders tightening of security for Chinese nationals

Shehbaz noted that China’s unstinting support played an invaluable role in helping Pakistan offset external shocks from the global economy and demonstrating the continued resilience of Pakistan-China cooperation at a time of heightened uncertainty on the world stage.

The prime minister thanked China for its steadfast support on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Both sides also exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan, including the humanitarian and economic crises.Yang is the first high ranking Chinese official to visit Pakistan since the change of government in Islamabad. The visit is part of regular high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China, the Foreign Office statement said.

The recent bilateral interactions included virtual meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries on May 11; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s telephone call to Premier Li Keqiang on May 16; and the foreign minister’s visit to China on May 21-22, the statement said.

“Director Yang’s visit reflects the importance attached by Pakistan and China to further deepen their ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’, reaffirm mutual support on issues of each other’s core interests, enhance economic engagement, explore new avenues of bilateral cooperation for betterment of the two peoples, advance high-quality development of CPEC, and coordinate positions on important regional and global issues of mutual interest.”

Some reports have suggested that China wants its own security company to protect its citizens and assets in Pakistan. The move reportedly came from Beijing in the wake of increased attacks against the Chinese nationals.

In July last year, nine Chinese nationals were killed in terrorist attack in Dasu. They were working on a hydroelectric power project. In April this year, three Chinese teachers, working at the Karachi University’s Confucius Institute, were killed in a suicide attack.

Pakistan is believed to have been not in favour of allowing private Chinese security companies to operate instead it has assured Beijing of foolproof security to the Chinese workers in Pakistan.