PM to end power deficit with China deals
Completing the unfinished business
| $45b MoUs, pacts being signed today mostly relate to energy, infrastructure | Nawaz vows economic turnaround, end to loadshedding
BEIJING - The top leadership of Pakistan and China is meeting today in the Chinese capital to ink important Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and agreements of bilateral cooperation.
These documents had to be signed during the proposed visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in October. However, his visit had to be postponed in view of the sit-ins staged in Islamabad by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek. Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri did not budge to pave the way for the visit of the Chinese leader despite immense pressure from the joint session of the Parliament.
The other most important engagement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is to attend a Dialogue on Strengthening Connectivity Partnership ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Countries’ week-long activity. For this, the Chinese president extended a special invitation to the PM.
As the host of the APEC Economic Leaders' Summit 2014, Beijing has identified strengthening connectivity as an important priority area for the meeting this year. The meeting (Nov 10-11) is likely to approve the APEC blueprint on connectivity to promote policy coordination, inter-connected growth and inter-dependence for development in the Asia Pacific.
It may be mentioned that China believes that Asia Pacific connectivity must be inclusive, covering all countries and benefitting all the people in the region. China believes that it could only be achieved through concentrated efforts of all countries with the support of regional organisations.
In this connection, China, departing from tradition, decided to separately host a dialogue, themed Strengthening Connectivity Partnership, and invited leaders of Pakistan, Myanmar, Laos, Mongolia, Cambodia, Tajikistan and Bangladesh to the event.
To resume the dialogue from where it had to be deferred, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in the Chinese capital on Friday on a special invitation extended by the Chinese president for the purpose of signing proposed MOUs. The objective behind this top-level interaction is to proceed further than just signing documents.
Diplomatic observers in Beijing say that possibilities would be explored to launch all pending development projects with Chinese funding for which major Chinese banks had already given the green signal.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's delegation includes Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and PM’s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
Today morning, the two prime ministers would meet at the historic Great Hall of the People for formal bilateral talks. This would be followed by the ceremony of signing MOUs and agreements.
Nawaz Sharif's meeting with his counterpart would be followed by his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during which matters of mutual interest would be discussed and new vistas of cooperation would be explored to further extend the already solid bilateral and strategic relations between the two neighboring states.
Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan and China would sign $45 billion agreements during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He said that out of these, $34 billion would be spent on energy-related projects and $11 billion for infrastructure development.
Minister for Water and Power Kh Muhammad Asif said most of the agreements to be signed during the visit were energy-related, including coal projects, 900 solar projects and 400 wind projects.
Before leaving for the visit, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said: "I am going to China to save my people from excessive loadshedding during atrocious summers.”
On his arrival in Beijing, the PM was greeted by a smartly turned contingent of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Power projects of 16,520MW would bring substantial improvement in all sectors of economy after completion.
The important projects be completed with the Chinese help include 1320MW Sino Hydro Resource Project, two 660MW Sahiwal Coal Fired Projects, 2,330MW Engro Thar Coal Fire Project, 1320MW each Muzaffargarh Coal Power, Rahim Yar Khan, SSRL Thar coal projects and Thar Mine Mouth Oracle projects, 1000MW SSRL Thar Coal Block, 6,2640MW Gaddani Power Park Project, 300MW Gwadar Coal, 100MW Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, 50MW Dawood Wind Farm, 100MW UEP Wind Farm, 50MW Sachal Wind Farm, 50MW Sunnec Wind Farm, 870MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Station and 720MW Karot Hydropower Station.
The prime minister would also sign an agreement to construct 440km KKH-II Raikot-Islamabad section, Karachi-Lahore Motorway, Havelian Dry Port, Orange Line Project of Lahore, Cross-Border Optical Fiber Cable and Hari-Ruba Economic Zone.
PM to end power deficit with China deals
