Sino-Pak nuke deal signed in 2009; six new agreements inked

Amid concerns by India and the US, Pakistan today claimed that it had inked a deal with China to build two nuclear reactors in 2009 itself, even as the two countries signed six agreements during the visit of president Asif Ali Zardari to cement their all weather bilateral ties.

The two countries inked six agreements after Zardari met his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao which covered agriculture, health-care, justice, media and economy. 

China also pledged 50 million Yuan ($7.38 million) for new projects in Pakistan to coincide with Zardari's fifth visit since 2008.

"The two countries have worked together and will continue to work together to further deepen the people to people contacts and China is a friend and a strategic partner committed to the promotion of stability and economic progress of Pakistan"  Hu said.

Before the arrival of Zardari here his spokesperson told media, that Beijing has demonstrated yet again its strong support to Islamabad by categorically reiterating that it will go ahead with the construction of the two nuclear reactors.

An agreement which "goes along well with the international non-proliferation obligations of China and Pakistan" was signed during Zardari's last year visit here, the president's press secretary Farhatullah Babar was quoted as saying by Pakistan's official APP news agency.

His remarks came as Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Masood Khan said the issues relating to nuclear plants would certainly be on the agenda of Zardari's talks with the Chinese leaders.

"Our cooperation is transparent and will be under the IAEA safeguard," Khan said. However, there was no word on the
nuclear deal in the official Chinese media.

On his arrival here last night, Zardari said "we believe that China is a factor of stability in the region." 

"This is my fifth visit to China since October 2008 and I have truly been inspired by the remarkable achievements of the Chinese people," he said.

India and the United States have already conveyed their concerns to China over the Sino-Pak nuclear deal.

National security adviser Shivshankar Menon, who held extensive talks with the Chinese leaders during his four-day visit here which ended yesterday, has said that he was told by the Chinese leaders that the reactors would be built under international obligations and added that India will "wait and see" how Beijing goes about it.

The news about China's plans to build nuclear reactors for Pakistan was first carried by 'China National Nuclear Corporation' on its website in March this year.

China notified the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) about its plan in this regard last month. The new agreements were signed today after one-to-one talks followed by delegation level talks between Zardari and Chinese president Hu Jintao.

Echoing Hu's remarks, Zardari said Pakistan and China would work together to combat the "three forces" so to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region, state run Xinhua news agency reported.

As a sign of closer cooperation on fighting terrorism between the neighbours, currently a joint anti-terrorism drill, code-named "Friendship-2010," is being held between China and Pakistan's armed forces in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

On trade cooperation, Hu said China would explore new ways to cooperate as well as cement cooperation between the two countries in such areas as energy, transportation, telecommunication, infrastructure and agriculture.

Hu said that China had become Pakistan's second largest trading partner and pledged to make "steady progress in cooperation with Pakistan in energy, telecom sectors, Neelum Jhelum project and Pakistan telecommunication satellite project."

Hina Rabbani Khar signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation on the occasion. 

The chairman of China's Three Gorges Corporation Cao Guagjing after meeting with President Zardari said, "we are in
agreement with the government of Pakistan to develop hydro and
other means of power generation including wind energy".

He said feasibility for the $2.6 billion Kohala hydel project has been completed, which will provide 1200 MW electricity after its completion in four years.

He said work on feasibility study for the Bunji dam project has begun that will produce 7000 MW at a cost of $8 billion.

The chairman of Sino-Hydro Liu Qitao told the media after meeting with the president that his company has presence
in Pakistan for two decades.

The Sino-Hydro specializes in building infrastructure for power and irrigation projects. 

He pointed out that the Sino-Hydro would carry out a big irrigation project by building Darwat dam. 

General manager of Pakistan Railways Ashfaq Khattak said Pakistan has decided to purchase 75 new railway engines
and 200 bogies from China Northern Railways.

The 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties falls in 2011 and the two countries should prepare early for the celebrations, Hu said. 

Hu appreciated the efforts the Pakistani government had made to safeguard the security of Chinese nationals and organisations in Pakistan.