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BEIJING: China has asked the United States to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty, understand its problems, address its concerns and acknowledge the sacrifices rendered by it in the war against terror.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here Wednesday, Chinese Premier Wen Jibao said he had taken up the matter with US officials during a recent strategic and economic dialogue in Washington, adding that the Americans had acknowledged Pakistan’s contributions to the war on terror and assured him that their country would take steps to improve relations with Pakistan.
Mr Jibao said that regardless of changes that might take place in the international landscape, China and Pakistan would remain forever good neighbours and good partners.
Pakistan and China signed three agreements on economic and technological cooperation, banking and mining.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan and China had agreed to bolster defence ties. China promised to help enhance the capacity of Pakistan’s three armed forces.
In the context of the unilateral US operation in which Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed, Mr Jibao categorically stated that his country supported Pakistan’s stance and would help it in implementing whatever strategy it adopted to combat terrorism.
The two sides agreed to continue cooperation for peace in the region.
The Chinese premier praised Mr Gilani’s decision to accept India’s invitation to watch the cricket world cup semifinal in Mohali and said it would help improve relations between the two neighbours.
The two countries agreed to continue their consultations on the Afghan issue. They agreed to support each other on international forums and continue consultations on UN Security Council reforms.
Answering a question, Mr Gilani said his visit to China was pre-scheduled and it had nothing to do with the killing of Osama bin Laden or to ease the US pressure on Pakistan. He said Pakistan would not accept any dictate and take decisions in the national interest.
About the US demand for an immediate operation in North Waziristan, he said the government would take a decision in consultation with the army. “We will see if an operation is to be carried out at all or otherwise.”
He said Pakistan would review its counter-terrorism strategy and relationship with the United States. “We will decide rules of business for any future cooperation with America.”
Responding to a question, Mr Gilani denied he had retracted his statement that Osama’s killing was a ‘great victory’. He said Bin Laden was a foreigner who was using Pakistani soil for acts of terrorism against other countries and had also declared war against Pakistan. “He (Osama) was responsible for the killing of thousands of Pakistanis.”
The prime minister said the US had assured that there would be no “unilateral attack” inside Pakistan’s territory in future. “If another high-value target is found in Pakistan a joint operation will be carried out against him.”
He quoted US Senator John Kerry as saying that information about the Abbottabad operation was not shared because of security reasons and not because of any mistrust.
Answering a question about the recent UN Security Council resolution on nuclear terrorism, he said that only “nuclear terrorists” should worry about it.
He said that although the war on terror had adversely affected foreign investment in Pakistan, trade with China had improved and registered a growth of 25 in 2009 and 28 per cent in 2010. He said the two countries would soon hold talks on the second phase of free trade agreement (FTA).
AGREEMENTS: Ambassador to China Masood Ahmad Khan, who accompanied the prime minister, told reporters that Pakistan and China had signed agreements to enhance their relations in different fields.
Under the first agreement signed by the China Banking Regulatory Authority and State Bank of Pakistan, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China will open two branches in Pakistan.
He said the National Bank of Pakistan would open a branch in China.
Under the second agreement, the Saindak gold and copper mining project has been extended till 2017.
The two countries also signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation. The ambassador said China would treat 1,000 cataract patients from Pakistan, almost half of them this year.
He said that Chinese missions would visit Pakistan for talks to remove trade imbalance between the two countries.
