https://arab.news/w49tz
- The visit comes as Pakistan’s security challenges put a strain on its ties with China, with militants frequently attacking Chinese interests in Pakistan
- China has publicly criticized Pakistan over the attacks, while media reports have suggested that Beijing wants its own forces on the ground
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari will leave today, Tuesday, for Beijing on a five-day state visit to China, amid friction between the two allies over security of Chinese interests in Pakistan.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan that has pledged over $65 billion in investment in road, infrastructure and development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of the Belt and Road Initiative that is a massive China-led infrastructure project that aims to stretch around the globe.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan’s security challenges have put a strain on Islamabad’s ties with China, with separatist and religiously motivated militants attacking Chinese interests and nationals in Pakistan in recent years. In October, a suicide blast killed two Chinese nationals in Karachi, while five Chinese workers were killed in a suicide bombing in northwest Pakistan in March.
Zardari is undertaking the visit from Feb. 4 till Feb. 8 on the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and will hold meetings with his Chinese counterpart, Premier Li Qiang and other senior Chinese officials in Beijing, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
“The discussions will encompass the full spectrum of Pakistan-China relations, with a particular focus on economic and trade cooperation; counter-terrorism and security collaboration, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and future connectivity initiatives,” it said on Sunday.
The suicide bombing near the Karachi airport in Oct. was claimed by the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has targeted Chinese interests and primarily operates in Balochistan where China is building a deep-sea port and last month opened an airport.
The BLA accuses China of plundering the province’s mineral resources with Pakistan’s help. Pakistani and Chinese authorities deny the allegation and say they are working for the uplift of the region.
In recent months, China has publicly criticized Pakistan over the attacks on its nationals and projects, while media reports have suggested that Beijing wants its own forces on the ground to protect its interests, a demand Islamabad has long resisted. Pakistan has assured China it will protect its nationals in the country from militant threats and has tightened security protocols for Chinese investors and nationals.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said President Zardari’s visit reflects “deep commitment” of the two countries to strengthening their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, while the two sides would also exchange views on the unfolding global and regional geopolitical landscape, and bilateral cooperation at multilateral fora.
“It reaffirms mutual support on the issues of core interests, advance economic and trade cooperation including CPEC, and to highlight their joint commitment to regional peace, development and stability,” it added