Chinese Premier Li Keqiang PML-N chief Nawaz Sahrif shake hands prior to their meting. PHOTO: REUTERS
While the refrain when it comes to Pakistan’s relations with the US has usually been ‘trade not aid’, with China it seems to be ‘energy not aid’.
In his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday, prime minister-to-be Nawaz Sharif sought Beijing’s assistance in overcoming the country’s worsening power crisis and urged him to further expand cooperation in the civil nuclear technology sector.
“Instead of aid, we have asked China to invest in Pakistan’s energy sector,” a senior PML-N official told The Express Tribune. “It will help us overcome our energy shortage and create new jobs, and at the same time be beneficial to China,” he added.
A day earlier during his meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, the Chinese premier offered his country’s help in resolving Pakistan’s energy crisis.
During the meeting, both leaders discussed ways to further strengthen existing bilateral and strategic relations. Nawaz expressed an eagerness to avail Chinese expertise in order to develop infrastructure in Pakistan and asked Premier Keqiang to develop the Gwadar Port as early as possible to kickstart economic activity in the country. The two leaders also discussed a range of regional and international issues of common interest.
“The PML-N chief has yet to take oath of his office and was thus not in any position to make any agreement but he will be materialising proposals [discussed in the meeting] when he would travel to Beijing,” added the PML-N official..
Congratulating Sharif on his party’s success in the general elections, the Chinese premier also invited the PML-N chief to visit China.
“China views Nawaz Sharif as a sincere and committed friend, whose contribution to expanding cooperation between the two countries is highly appreciated,” a statement quoted Premier Li as saying. Following the meeting, Sharif told reporters that he would visit China at the earliest after taking the oath of office, and it seems its not just energy that will be on the agenda.
“A team of experts will go with Sharif in his visit to Beijing who will materialise the proposals in several sectors other than energy as well,” the party official added.
Meeting with services chiefs Along with meeting the man who will be the next civilian head of government, the Chinese premier also met Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, along with the other services chief and the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, on Thursday.
They highly commended the China-Pakistan Defence and Security Consultations Mechanism, and resolved to maintain the momentum of high-level visits between the armed forces of the two countries and exchanges between military academics, while also deepening cooperation in counter-terrorism personnel training and identifying new areas for exchanges and cooperation.
Joint statement
In a joint statement issued at the conclusion of Chinese Premier’s two-day visit, Islamabad and Beijing agreed to further deepen practical cooperation in all sectors and strengthen coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues.
The Chinese premier reaffirmed support Pakistan’s efforts to uphold its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrit. In return, Pakistan reiterated that friendship with China is the cornerstone of its foreign policy as well.
According to the statement, tThe statement also said that both sides believe that terrorism, separatism and extremism pose a serious threat to regional peace, stability and security, and reaffirmed their resolve to continue cooperation to combat the ‘three evil forces’.
“China recognises that Pakistan has made great efforts and sacrifices to combat terrorism, and reiterates that it respects the anti-terrorism strategy developed and implemented by the Pakistani side in light of its own conditions,” the statement read.
Pakistan reaffirmed its resolve to combat terrorism, and commits to continuous, active collaboration with and assistance to China in combating terrorist forces including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2013.
COMMENTS (17)
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In February 2012, Punjab Energy Secretary Rab Nawaz revealed that the Punjab government was creating legislation to manage energy generation and distribution within a fair and transparent system that was likely to help overcome the energy crisis within the province. He said that a 50 megawatt energy plant had been built in the M-3 Industrial City. Another plant of 25 megawatts in Useful City and Small Industrial Estate, Sargodha Road were set up, which would help provide continuous electricity supply to the industries of Faisalabad. Where has that piece of legislation gone? What happened to the energy plants built in different cities of Punjab? Following the 18th amendment provinces had authority to generate electricity but they did not , how they will overcome this issue this time is enigma.
@Shaikh Muneeb: You have made a very valid observation regarding the Chinese products which are of both categories ie good and bad respectively. Most of the poor quality products are dumped into third world countries including Africa whereas quality products are sold to Western countries who check their quality before accepting them. Pakistan who is facing acute energy crises should be extremely careful in buying energy and related equipment from China. The Indian experience has not been so good in this regard as two thermal plants installed with Chinese equipment at Durgapur West Bengal and Yamuna Nagar which were purchased from top Chinese companies Doofong Elect Corp and Shanghai Elect Power Corp packed up immediately due to high heat rate and faulty ceramic coal pipes. Chinese engineers refused to repair them in India and asked us to transfer the equipment to China for repairs, all at our cost. Due to exorbitant cost of repairs in China, the Indian company Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) was asked to repair them. BHEL with collaboration with Siemens and L&T India with Mitshubishi are now manufacturing power equipment locally. Since these episodes, India's Apex Central Electrical Authority has virtually stopped purchasing power energy eqpt from China. Even Pakistan experience of purchasing railway locomotives from China is not so good as most of them have become non-functional and cannot be repaired in Pakistan. Hope ET publishes this as facts have been stated and Pakistan can select technical consultant from a foreign country if so needed to evaluate the energy equipment to be purchased from China and not blindly accept what is offered or dumped on the country to repent later.
@san: Then simply don't buy them, buy other first class local products :)
@Observer: Your post is an eye opener to severe energy crisis due to non-payment electricity bills amounting to several billions by top govt and private institutions/enterprises including politicians who are going to run the country. It is almost an impossible task to overcome this dire crises without taking drastic steps for cleaning the in house arrangements ie initially clearing all previous arrears due and taking strict action against the defaulters in future. I am reminded of an incident of partial stoppage of electric supply due to non-payment to an Indian military Cantonment a few years back and supply restored only after making of full payment along with penalty charges to the electricity department. In this context I fully agree with Imran Khan views that all Pakistanis should pay their taxes and electricity bills if the country is to make progress and this should be strictly implemented with immediate effect with top politicians/military institutions taking the lead to set an example.
@Mehboob
There already too many projects in the pipeline that need money. There is no way that Basha and Kalabagh and be built together. Basha is less problematic and far ahead in the game.
First as a nation start paying taxes and stop stealing electricity. Nobody will invest if they cannot recoup their investments.
Bring all provinces on one platform, Elected representatives, thinkers and activist group. Let them gather in Convention Centre Islamabad and discuss the KalaBagh Dam in best interest of Pakistan. Punjab as being elder brother may also give major share of water to Sindh and other provinces from that Dam and get the whole Pakistan on board. If we all raise voice in the best interest of Pakistan, we can make it. We really need to think as a one whole unit "Pakistan", we will realize that this will solve many problems. Punjab has great responsibility on its shoulder. Some solid contracts and understandings can be made.
We have spend millions if not billions, already on this project. Lets spend some more and try to prosper together.
I was born in Hyderabad and brought up in Karachi.
Lets get all up together for a better Pakistan please!
Its pathetic that Premier to be is asking for help with energy crisis. The infrastructure is not the reason for lack of power. The issue is that we don't have enough funds to run all the power plants with full capacity. Sharif brothers are among the top 12 defaulters as per LESCO official page. http://www.lesco.gov.pk/News&Media/5000071.asp
http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?87441-ITTEFAQ-FOUNDRIES-of-Nawaz-Sharif-in-TOP-DEFAULTERS-of-LESCO
Why no one in Pakistan has come forward to expose this is beyond me. All I know is that another 5 years of development have been stolen from Pakistan on 11 may. Thank you all for who voted for PMLN. E.T please publish this comment for people to see.
Its an irony that we have low quality chinese products in our markets. But one can not generalize all chinese products as low quality products. Our people who import such products are responsible not the chinese.
This deal should have been struck with China a long time back and we would not have to face the current crisis in the energy sector, anyways better late than never.
Other than that damn it's like for the first time i am seeing the Chinese Premier smiling like this, in all his other pictures he seems bored, sleepy and lost :S
@san The Chinese make third class cheap products only for third class cheap people that buy them cheaply and at the same time show their poisonous ungratefulness. China does have a nice way of identifying the worth of the economies it manufacture for. Elsewise, iPhones are also made in China. Do you even remotely think iPhones are third class cheap products???
If we intend to take electricity from China, it will be good for the country, but at the same time Pakistan should also study the case of China at what rates China is selling its electricity to its residential, commercial and industrial consumers.
China sells electricity at tye most cheap rates to its consumer comparing to Pakistan where electricity companies are minting money with both hands from its poor consumers.
If PML(N) government can provide electricity through the cooperation of China and sell it on much cheaper rates without uninterruption supply of power, I am 100% confident that people of Pakistan will elect PML(N) time and again in every general election that may held in future as well.
@san: freedom? from whom? you as a nation should be grateful they are even cooperating!
The chinese premier's all statements are rhetorical. He did not say anything concrete at all. Looks like all his focus was on anti terrorism. No promise on anything else at all.
Pakistani officials must ban import of plastic weapons toys for our children. They can instead import other creative toys. Pak-China Friendship Live Long.
yes. PAKISTAN needs technology from china so that energy crisis can be tackled.
We as nation do not want third class chinese products. We want freedom.