Pak China Relations
IPRI Review: Document no: 5 Pakistan-China Relations
Pakistan and China’s bilateral relations have stood the test of time. China has always provided political, economic, humanitarian and diplomatic support to Pakistan. However, for the last two years there has been a concerted campaign in the Indian and Western media to malign this relationship by blowing minor issues out of proportion. Chinese aid volume during the 2010 super floods, the pulling out of government owned Chinese bank from Iran-Pakistan pipeline project, the 2011 terrorist attack in Xinjiang in which involvement of Pakistani elements was pointed by China, the withholding of time sensitive funds of Rs 274 billion for Nelum-Jehlum hydropower project, on Indian pressure; are cited as signs of weakening ties. Though Pak-China bilateral relations are very robust, it is obvious that in international affairs nothing can be taken for granted. Necessary measures need to be adopted to smooth any wrinkles in the relationship. There have also been some interesting regional as well as global developments during recent years which require further strengthening of PakChina rapport.
Pak-China interaction presently is limited to mostly inter-government contacts. People to people contacts are few and far between and play scant role in strengthening the bilateral relations. A sustained robust relationship would need understanding of each other’s culture, language, ways of life, regular people to people contact, interaction between media, joint participation in creative arts like cinema and music etc. Exchange of students, tourism and visits of cultural
1
troupes keep mutual ties refreshed. Collaboration at think tanks’ level helps in correcting any distortion in perceptions.
It is very reassuring that China wants to see Pakistan as a prosperous and developed country and regards its problems sympathetically. Bureaucratic redtape and inefficient handling stand in the way of speedy execution of MoUs
Pakistan and China’s bilateral relations have stood the test of time. China has always provided political, economic, humanitarian and diplomatic support to Pakistan. However, for the last two years there has been a concerted campaign in the Indian and Western media to malign this relationship by blowing minor issues out of proportion. Chinese aid volume during the 2010 super floods, the pulling out of government owned Chinese bank from Iran-Pakistan pipeline project, the 2011 terrorist attack in Xinjiang in which involvement of Pakistani elements was pointed by China, the withholding of time sensitive funds of Rs 274 billion for Nelum-Jehlum hydropower project, on Indian pressure; are cited as signs of weakening ties. Though Pak-China bilateral relations are very robust, it is obvious that in international affairs nothing can be taken for granted. Necessary measures need to be adopted to smooth any wrinkles in the relationship. There have also been some interesting regional as well as global developments during recent years which require further strengthening of PakChina rapport.
Pak-China interaction presently is limited to mostly inter-government contacts. People to people contacts are few and far between and play scant role in strengthening the bilateral relations. A sustained robust relationship would need understanding of each other’s culture, language, ways of life, regular people to people contact, interaction between media, joint participation in creative arts like cinema and music etc. Exchange of students, tourism and visits of cultural
1
troupes keep mutual ties refreshed. Collaboration at think tanks’ level helps in correcting any distortion in perceptions.
It is very reassuring that China wants to see Pakistan as a prosperous and developed country and regards its problems sympathetically. Bureaucratic redtape and inefficient handling stand in the way of speedy execution of MoUs