Premier Jiabao’s visit: Pakistan, China may start strategic dialogue

Jiabao will arrive in Pakistan for three-day visit on December 18 to cement “strategic cooperation”.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China may initiate a “strategic dialogue” on the pattern of the ongoing Pak-US dialogue during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s upcoming visit.

Jiabao will arrive in Pakistan for a three-day visit on December 18 to cement what officials from both sides term “strategic cooperation”. During this visit, he will address a joint session of the parliament on December 19.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that during his visit to Pakistan, the two countries are likely to finalise the modalities of their strategic dialogue, augmenting their close coordination in different fields including nuclear technology.

China and Pakistan consider each other time-tested friends and China is already working with Pakistan in building nuclear power plants at Chashma and other locations.

The new proposed deals between the two countries are likely to agitate important world capitals. Besides neighbouring India, the US and some other Western capitals have already expressed apprehension over the burgeoning co-operation between China and Pakistan. Reportedly, the US had sought details from Islamabad on its nuclear cooperation with China, which Islamabad declined.

Economic officials from both countries have already identified several projects to be announced during the visit. According to an announcement from Islamabad and Beijing, Chinese companies plan to invest more than $10 billion in various infrastructure and development projects in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2010.