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Pakistan-China Relations and Asif Zardari’s Visit

President Asif Ali Zardari’s maiden visit to China comes at a very crucial time for Pakistan. The country is troubled on several fronts: its economy has hit rock bottom, it is unable to effectively counter the rising challenge of militancy and terrorism and its relationship with the US is more strained than it has ever been in the past eight years.

Although there are innumerable past blunders and missteps that Pakistan’s mercurial leadership can be blamed for, there is one thing that it has done right – cement a 40-year old relationship of trust, friendship and reciprocity with China. And this is the relationship that can possibly help Pakistan out of its current quagmire. President Zardari’s visit to Beijing can prove decisive for his country’s future, whichright now looks rather uncertain.

During the Pakistani leader’s meeting with Chinese officials, several agreements on economic and technical cooperation were signed. President Zardari is also seeking a loan of
$1.5 – 2 billion as cash injection to resurrect his country’s ailing economy.

There has also been talk ofChina aiding Pakistan in
building a civilian nuclear programme, a la India-US arrangement. The Pak policymakers, political analysts and general population at large are very optimistic about the Zardari visit bolstering relations between the neighbours that have been historically very close.

China, on the other hand, is currently enjoying record economic growth. The Asian giant has also gone to great lengths to increase its regional and international influence by technological and cultural advancements. Beijing has an insatiable appetite for resources and trade and Pakistan can make use of these significant advantages from this. There has been some progress in development of trade ties between the neighbours.

In 2006, the two countries signed a trade agreement to increase trade to $2 bn by 2011. China is also involved in building telecommunications, construction and energy sectors in Pakistan.

In the last eight years, it has failed to aggressively pursue its nexus with China, choosing to concentrate its energies on allying with the US to fight the war on terror. Yet the Western superpower has merely sought an alliance of convenience with its South Asian ally. After nearly eight years into the war on terror, their strategic association is marked with ambiguity, strain and lack of common objectives.

Pakistan has also failed to provide adequate security to the thousands of Chinese technicians, entrepreneurs and workers in the country. Moreover, rebels in China’s autonomous province of Xinjiang Uighur are also alleged to
have links with militants in Pakistan.

But the historical friendship between the two countries affirmed by President Zardari’s visit to China, gives Pakistan a chance to make amends. It is about time that Pakistan’s policymakers urgently reassess their geo-strategic priorities. Closer defence, trade and energy ties with China will arguably benefit Pakistan more, which currently finds itself in a weak position on the regional and international fronts. Thus Pakistan’s leaders should focus their energies on aggressively expanding the scope of their country’s relationship with Asia’s emerging superpower.