PM’s visit to China: Pakistan-China relations to be further strengthened
By Zafar Bhutta

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...27-1-2008_pg5_2

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China are set to ink three important agreements for promotion of investment, trade, road and rail links during the forth coming visit of the caretaker Prime Minister to China expected in current week, official sources told Daily Times on Saturday.

First agreement relates to laying railway line from Gwadar port oil city to China. Other is to double Karakuram Highway for enhancing land link of Gwadar Port with China to attract the Chinese investment in Gwadar oil city by providing better communication link.

Third and most important is Chinese lending programme based on soft loans for mega projects being carried out by Chinese companies in Pakistan. Sources said that the laying of railway line track is a part of trade, energy, transport and industrial corridor programme between two countries. Sources said that the corridor would require a set of important measures to make this initiative a success. The laying of railway line track and double Karakuram highway is one of those important measures required.

They also said that many companies are working in the areas of energy, water and power sectors and therefore China wants to provide soft loan for all the mega projects in these sectors. Sources also said that by double road of Karakuram Highway and laying railway line track between the two countries would help China to open doors for the access to central Asian states through Gwadar port.

Sources further informed during the forthcoming visit of caretaker prime minister Mohammedmian Soomro to China, two sides may also move ahead on signing agreements on Chinese investment in Gwadar Oil City, incentives for setting up of special economic Zones(SEZ) and Gawader seaport development programme.

Two sides also may sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in energy sector and Chinese petroleum ministry had earlier indicated shifting of energy related industry and it access capacity to the port. Chinese ministry has estimated that this zone can attract Chinese investment of around $ 13 billion.

Balochistan government has been asked to identify state land for development of projects at Gwadar out of which 50 square kilometers land would be allocated to Chinese developers for setting up SEZ. China-Saudi Oil refinery would be set up in proposed oil city at Gwadar.

I just have a question. But about how much oil does China import from the ME?

Is it wise to allow China this strong an influence when it comes to Gwadar?

Be aware, just as with the US, or with Iran, or with any other country, a regime change could affect Sino-Pak relations.

I doubt there will be a regime change in China man (for us, we always have one, but that does not affect Sino-Pak relations). And even if there is, I don't think it would hurt Sino-Pak relations.

how much oil they import has no importance, what is important is how much oil they will hope to import via the pipelines through pakistan....there is a huge turf war going on for the cntrol of energy..the one who controls the flow of energy is going to be in the clear advantage in the future where there will be several superpowers and superpower blocks.....

this is very good news it shows that the chinese are adamant on the mega project to link pakistan to china via rail, road and pipe.....one of these projects is to increase the width of the karakoram highway to 30meters which is the width of your box sandard motorway/freeway......and on top there are feasibility studies on widening it even more to accomedate rail and pipe lines.


http://www.nha.gov.pk/Info/Federalized%20N...c%20Roads.1.pdf

they doent have too much influence......every buyer has a influence over a seller and vice versa....we are providing hem a service, and thus they have influence....similerly we will have influence on them as gwader should eventually account for between 20-30% of all chinese exports and imports the image is very unclear....but a LOT of oil and gass will shipped through pakistan to meet chinese demands.....

this arangement will not only benefit them but us aswell, it will give us a platform to share with the entire world our goods and also create a LOT of jobs....towns/bazaars always spring up on cross roads.....we are a crossroad....

Well I wanted to know how much oil they import from the ME so we could see how much oil they are even going to have go through Pakistan. But then again, China's oil needs are increasing exponentially so it would be a lot more oil from the ME in the future.

I was reading an article a few months ago which stated that the National Trade Corridor of which Gwadar is a key element if fully utilised could generate close to $60 Billion for the Pakistani economy.

Annually, and thats within 10 years. It would/could easily get bigger once Africa begins to develop more.

That ten year figure, are you sure?

It takes close to 7 years for a deep-sea port to reach its full potential.

Well when that report came out (if we're talking about the same one) it said 'within 10 years'. So its not necessarily exactly 10. Plus this is Pakistan we're talking about, so I would want to put a few extra years on it.

Think of it from a Vision 2030 perspective...hence the accomplishments before 2030 will be related to infrastructure, education, health, growth of local corporations and the increased urbanization - especially in Baluchistan. The accomplishment for 2030 is to have a GDP of $1trn and a per-capita of $3000-4000...nothing major, but the the above mentioned systems are to be near-complete by 2030. By 2030 we are also anticipating the growth and opening of Africa and Latin America...so the "road to glory" in terms of economic recognition will start from 2030.

Right now...I think 90%? of the Pakistani economic growth is powered locally?

I think if we can take this Trade Corridor to its fullest potential, we will become a major player way before that time.

well exactly, the thing is the americans have several pipelines converging in israel from all over ME where from the oil is shipped to USA.....(hence american israel is a american necesity)

them taking iraq has secured one more country to pipe oil from.....but the war is not over....and in real business...(supply demand) the chinese willing to pay far far greater ammounts for oil then the americans...thus they win.....but then MOSAD/CIA come into play....geo politics, wars etc etc etc....


so only thing we can do is wait and see.....as there is no way to tell as of et how the situation will shape up in another decade.....

Ya, but we also have to fight back in some way. In the end everyone knows that China will come out on top (even if that takes decades).

but thas directly from gwader....it does not include the billions we will make indirectly.......more money will alow for more money to be made....kind of thing....employees of multinationals will no doubt have dreams of their own...and with the money they earn and experise they learn they may well want to go into business them selfs......look for example at the IT industry in both pakistan and india...yees..a lot of people are opening their own small companies.....but the finances and knowledge they learnt came from their original employers...


similerly i think there might be a increase in pakistani companies in this regard....ie logisics service providers, exporters/importers, wholesellers, etc etc etc.....

China is true freind of Pakistan who help us in time of need, China is always best freind of Pakistan together we are the allied forces and brothers in arms, China always do good for Pakistan and give us gift which is called F6 fighter jet in 1965 after Pak-Indo war that was from Chinese people.

Ya, not to mention that from these jobs created, people will be able to spend more money, meaning more purchasing power of the consumers which also means there will be a need for more products, which will hopefully mean more industry in Pakistan.