[Peace-discuss] Defiance of USA?

[Ron Szoke]

Daily Times, Lahore, Pakistan, 19 Dec 2010  
Beijing will ‘never give up’ Islamabad: Wen

Pakistan, China ink $35bn deals

* Two countries sign 35 pacts and MoUs for cooperation in energy, 
security, banking, technology sectors 

* Biggest deal worth $6.5bn for development of wind, solar power

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China inked 35 agreements and 
memorandums of understanding (MoUs), worth $35 billion, on 
cooperation in economy, energy, banking, security and technology as the 
Pak-China Business Cooperation Summit concluded on Saturday. 

Of the 35 agreements, 13 will be implemented in the public sector and 
22 in the private sector. They are expected to bring around $25-$30 
billion of investment over the next five years. The signing ceremony was 
witnessed by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his Chinese 
counterpart Wen Jiabao, who said Beijing would “never give up” on 
Pakistan.

Agreement and MoUs relating to investment worth $10 billion are to be 
implemented under the public-private partnership basis while $5 billion 
investment is to be undertaken under the private sector to private sector 
investment initiatives. According to a list handed out to journalists, the 
biggest deal was worth $6.5 billion to develop wind and solar power. 
Though not specifically mentioned, behind-the-scenes talks were 
expected on China building a one-gigawatt nuclear power plant as part 
of Pakistani plans to produce 8,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity by 
2025 to make up its energy shortfall. 

China extended full support to Pakistan’s sovereignty, security and 
political integrity besides extending strong support in enhancing 
defence, cooperation in economic areas and the space programme, said 
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir. In their address to Pak-China Business 
Cooperation Summit, both the premiers vowed to strengthen economic 
and trade relations between the two countries. Speaking on the occasion, 
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that China was aware of Pakistan’s 
desire for cooperation to bridge the pressing gap in energy and would 
continue to cooperate in peaceful use of nuclear energy with Pakistan. 
He said that the Karakoram Highway, Gwadar Port and newly 
inaugurated Pak-China Friendship Centre were a symbol of friendship 
between the two countries.

Prime Minister Gilani said that China had always been a generous and 
reliable partner in Pakistan’s national development efforts. He said that 
monumental projects such as the Karakoram Highway, Chashma power 
plants, Heavy Mechanical and Electrical Complexes, the Gwadar Port, 
were all examples of the outstanding cooperation between our two 
countries, he added. 

“We have established an all-weather friendship and engaged in all-round 
cooperation. The China-Pakistan relationship has withstood the test of 
time and changes in the international landscape,” Wen told a lunch in his 
honour. “Under no circumstances we will give up on our commitment to 
pursuing this partnership.” Wen pledged China’s full support in the wake 
of the floods, saying Beijing would help the country “lay a new solid 
foundation for you to achieve self-owned, stable and sustainable 
development.” He inaugurated the Pak-China Friendship Centre built as 
a monument to Pak–China friendship and held talks with opposition 
leader Nawaz Sharif and senior figures in the military. staff 
report/agencies