CHINA AND PAKISTAN

IS PAKISTAN DELUSIONAL ABOUT CHINA’S SUPPORT?

Firstpost., May 23, 2013

Islamabad: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang praised the Sino-Pakistan relationship to the hilt on Thursday, urging the "all-weather friends" to boost cooperation in business, trade, energy and infrastructure and build a long-vaunted economic corridor.

But not everyone is convinced China has Pakistan interests totally at heart.Li arrived in the Pakistani capital on Wednesday on the second leg of his first official trip since taking office in March and after a visit to Pakistan and China's arch rival, India. He leaves for Switzerland and Germany later on Thursday.

"We want to achieve dynamic balance in our trade," Li said in an address to the Senate.

"We are ready to work with Pakistan to speed up the project of upgrading the Karakoram Highway, actively explore and develop the long-term plans of building a China-Pakistan economic corridor, expanding our shared interests."

The Karakoram Highway, built through towering mountains with China's help, links northern Pakistan with western China.

Li expressed hope for financial, maritime, agricultural, defence and energy cooperation, and praised Pakistan for its "tenacity and fortitude" and "creating one miracle after another".

"The China-Pakistan friendship has stood the test of hardship and is more precious than gold," he said.

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