BEIJING: China's senior diplomat Dai Bingguo arrived in Pakistan on Friday for talks with the country whose relations with key backer, the United States, have gone from bad to worse, state news agency Xinhua said.
Dai will meet Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a daily briefing.
Dai is a state councillor who steers foreign policy for China's top leaders. He outranks Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who answers to Dai.
The visit is meant to mark 60 years of diplomatic ties and will "take relations to a new high", Liu said.
Both sides will use this visit to "discuss the future development of practical cooperation and exchange views on other issues of mutual concern," Liu said, without elaborating.
"China is satisfied with the present course of bilateral relations and has total confidence in prospects for future cooperation the future," Liu added.
Liu did not give other details on Dai's trip.
Beijing has voiced support for Islamabad during months of worsening Pakistani-American relations, which were shaken by the US incursion in May that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden near a Pakistani military base, and a cross-border attack by US forces that mistakenly killed 24 Pakistani soldiers last month.
Pakistan has been trying to move closer to Asian powerhouse China as ties with the United States have suffered.
China and Pakistan call each other "all-weather friends" and their close ties have been underpinned by long-standing wariness of their common neighbour, India, and a desire to counter-balance US influence across the region.
China invested more than $200 million to help build the deep-sea Gwadar port on Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast, partly with a view to opening an energy and trade corridor from the Gulf, across Pakistan to western China.
China also helped Pakistan build its main nuclear power generation facility at Chashma in Punjab province. Two reactors are in operation and two more are planned. Analysts say China agreed to expand the Chashma complex to counter a 2008 nuclear energy deal between India and the United States.
COMMENTS (46)
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@Barbara: Could not agree more ! This is a Nation full of people who have been indoctrinated with their own self importance!!! Sadly the majority have never ventured out in real World, hence all the bravado and illusions !!! The Chinese will never ever support them financially as the Americans have done without accountability, yet the people really believe that their all weather friend is always there for them !! How much Aid and Assistance have Chinese given them over past decade ??? They don't want to know the facts here !
@antanu: If you could have, you would have. Go ahead and post the pictures on Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, or whereever you like and post the link as Yash says. Include the place (name/address of the eating joint you claim has the sign). Also, include your address in Kolkata as you claim on the site. And post the link here.
Concerning NA's Reply to @Menon: Keep day dreaming… It is not Pakistan that needs International community, it is International community that needs Pakistan. No one is as foolish as you to isolate a nuclear capable Pakistan with strong Army.
North Korea also has nuclear capability with a very strong army. North Korea only has friendly relationships with a few nations, including China. Most of the international community does not interact with, and does not NEED North Korea. There is no reason that a similar situation can develop between the international community and Pakistan.
@antanu:
do it...dont send the pics to any1....just erase ur face from the pic (if u wish to protect ur privacy) and upload it on picasa or facebook or sharing website and give the link....
@Harry Stone: to NA "It (Pak Army) surely cannot nor has it ever defeated an armed force." Let me tell you it is not for lack of trying again and again. So, they have now turned to dealing in properties and real estate. One of their choice units was in Abbottabad, till recently occupied by a certain Sheikh who got lassoed by the US. @You Said It: to antanu "Of course, you can still fool yourself all the time." And, you know, he helps himself generously to that.
@You Said It: And of course I am prepared to send visual pics of many eating joints in India if you so wish.Ready to take the hit? I repeat once again my dear....ridiculing your perceived enemy is no criteria for patriotism.Try to learn and remember it.
@You Said It: My dear fellow...come out of your sleep, your bed and your house to see various faces of our country. If truth hurts let it do so but all is not ROSY with our country also. The day we stop feeling holier than thou, there will be peace in the world.
@antanu: Your comments such as the one on Yaqoob Khan Bangash's op-ed piece "Only for Muslims" prove without a doubt that you've not landed a foot in India. You can fool some people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time. Of course, you can still fool yourself all the time.
For those asking, what is the interaction between Pakistan and China? I say LOTS!
I completed by MBBS from Jiao Tong University in Xi'an province. Best years of my life! I made lots of Chinese friends, very warm people. And I wasn't alone there, we had 25 Pakistanis in my batch, 40+ in the next and over the years we had 120+ Pakistani students at the university. This was just one university!
Pakistani students are going to China in ever increasing numbers, as US continues to behave excitedly in the wake of 9/11.
Also, there is a vibrant Pakistani community in China with businesses and restaurants all over. Janab, there are tons of Pakistanis in JAPAN & SINGAPORE!!
India and the U.S. shouldn't fear of a strong Sino-Pakistani relationship. China and Pakistan have been "all weather friends" for decades. Indeed China might be the only keyplayer that could ensure stability in Afghanistan.
@NA: 'It is not Pakistan that needs International community, it is International community that needs Pakistan.'
The only reason why the world is interested in Pakistan is due to the possibility of non-state actors based in the country getting access to nuclear weapons.
@Harry Stone: .....and why NOT?
@Akthar:
'We must demand substantial aid ..................'
How can you demand aid with a begging bowl? Only a thief will demand money with a knife in hand. China is not going to foot your bills or support the foolish adventures in Afghanistan. If the elites of the country are not paying their due share of taxes for all their perks that they enjoy, why do you expect the foreigners to come to your aid.
@With Love: You show your real character here. If speaking truth means Bangladeshi then so I am.This also shows how much bias you harbour against your neighbours.
@NA:
You will regret the day you have nuclear weapons.
As for a strong army, compared to what. I believe history says about all the PAK army can do is overthrow its own government. It surely cannot nor has it ever defeated an armed force.
China's top diplomat, Dai Bingguo is here to talk to the Government. What they will talk and agree or disagree on, is only speculation and opinion. The results will slowly trickle out in the coming days, so have patience.
All premature comments are like an overflowing teacup. Wasting away the tea that flows over the brim. Salams
@Mj:
Why invest in PAK?
Pak-China dosti zindabad, we may be two countries but are one nation in spirit.
It's hard to have a bad relationship when so little truly occurs between two parties beyond neighborly niceties for their own safety.
@Ejaz: China does not explicate its requirements while giving aid because it is a high context culture where silence is expected to convey more than words. US is other way around, everything is in writing, that's why they have the highest number of lawyers per capita in the world. So China's apparent generosity should be taken with a pinch of salt.
I read comments from our Indian readers with interest as they provide the other perspective . But some time I believe some one with Indian name write just to taunt and outright foolish. The result is that both sides start taunting each other, which means we lose the opportunity to learn from each other and improve our understanding. This antagonistic attitude has not served us both. China is supporting Pakistan because it suits to her foreign policy similarly US is costing with India for the same reasons. Otherwise the same India has been there since 1947 and the US did not see her, the way it is showering love on India now. Just remember Henry Kasinger said, no one is permanent enemy and friends, it's the interest of a nation that is permanent. As a super power US needs collaborators, it used Pakistan for last 60 years now it needs the services of bigger, richer and willing India. Good luck for India, just learn from Pakistan's experience it is always to the advantage of the super power the relationships are based. I support the views of Antanu telling others that being Pakistan basher does not make some one good Indian rather exposes that you are bad neighbour @antanu:
does he have deep pockets too?
@antanu: Then you must be one of those ungreatfull bangaladeshi who i can see have population wise grown tremendously in calcutta....
@Menon: And one more thing...US will not leave India grow like China.One day it would turn its attention to us also and we would paying heavy price.US simply can not tolerate any power which can challenge its hegemony. So losing the war to Afghans and Pakistan are in thebest interest of our country.
@Menon: First thing first Mr.Menon...I am an Indian and not an imposter in case you have any misgivings about my citizenship. But I am not biased and a fierce opponent of US policies.
We must demand substantial aid both in terms of Finance & well as arms/weapons for all the support we have provided to China. We know that American Aid will go down and so will the weapons supports. US can block spares to F-16`s and other american/western equipment and so our defence will become week. Also, the Russians may not sell us with their equipment since India buys large equipment from them. Also, we defeated russsians in the afghan war.
On the other hand, we have given so much to chinese and we must demand Aid from them.
@Surya: Mr.Surya...provide me you email i.d. and I will furnish my full address in Kolkata...if you care to meet me. Only thing is that I dont carry the biased attitude, most of my countrymen (specially commentators on ET) carry with them. You could be an imposter not me. I dare you to provide you email address.If you cant take the challenge then shut up.And remember by taunting Pakistan you are trying to prove to be a patriotic Indian. Well I dont have any doubt about my patriotism..and hence nothing to prove.
I don't see any goodies in his luggage !!! There are no mention about any Aid packages or Loans !!! Its not the Chinese way of friendship, they simply do not hand out monies, but will be willing to do Trade!!! Which incidently has virtually destroyed the home base industries with cheap imports !!! Wake up Pakistan !! This is not Uncle Sam , who kept on handing out $$$$$$ ..
@Menon: Keep day dreaming... It is not Pakistan that needs International community, it is International community that needs Pakistan. No one is as foolish as you to isolate a nuclear capable Pakistan with strong Army.
@antanu:
Just wait. It is still early. You are on your way to getting isolated by the International community. Thinking China can stand against the entire world on its own is delusional. Furthermore, China wouldn’t do it, why, NOT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. Realize the fact that Chinese economy is completely dependent on international trade, not domestic demand.
Delusion reigns. It is fascinating to read that Pakistan is all so willing to be a dependent country to one or another.
@antanu: Alas! you keep proving that you are hiding under fake indian identity..
Long live Pak-China friendship.
Welcome to our Dear Friends! Our friendship, which is deeper than oceans, higher than the Himalayas and sweeter than honey...is truly Cherished by every Pakistani. Thank You.
@ashok sai: what kind of comment this is? Sour grapes should not be shared this way. But I understand you were expecting Pakistan to be bombed to stone age by US but were disappointed it did not happen and now the US has claimed Taleban are not its enemies.
we welcome our chines friends with warm welcome. Pak-China longlive.
Pakistan China are true and time tested friends..long live Pak China Friendship
long live Pak-China friendship
These kind of diplomatic efforts will be fruitful for both countries. Pakistan needs financial and technical support from China and Pakistan acts as a buffer state for China. China has proven track record of strong relationships with Pakistan. As the financial and military power is rapidly shifting to China; it will be beneficial to all the small Asian countries to strengthen their ties with China. Of course, China will enjoy the vast Asian market for its goods. A great feautre of Chinese assistance and aid is that they don't tie you with their conditions unlike Western Aid and assistance which always ties up beneficiaries with their own interests and goals.
we want more aid along with investment, pakistan zindabad
Time to decide"Who is Who and What is What"
Pakistan and China are cooperating with each other not only because of the neighboring States. Rather, it is very correct to say that PAK' CHINA , are bound to cooperate each other in prevailing situation and environment in their surrondings and in the south Asia specifically.PAK' CHINA, cooperation must be taken to the top for the betterment of the people and for achieving the ultimate peace in this region.
hurray!!!, now no one can stop pak-china all weather friendship, pak-china friendship zindabad
It could be the last visit by Chinese with democratic Pakistan, notable thing from the news is, visitor not meeting with COAS.