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Pakistan president predicts more joint projects and expanded trade
By Ni Tao |
July 15, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
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EDITOR'S note:
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari spoke to Shanghai Daily reporter Ni Tao in Shanghai on July 10 about how to enhance the Sino-Pakistani relationship, one day before he wrapped up his five-day state visit to China.
Q: You called on Chinese business leaders in Beijing to invest in hydropower and alternative energy sources in Pakistan, which you said is "facing acute power shortages." How will you attract investment?
A: There are 13,000 Chinese working in Pakistan. There are 120 projects which are under construction in Pakistan by Chinese companies. So it's a continuing relationship and all I'm trying to do is enhance it.
Q: Your China itinerary includes many provincial capitals. Is this about economic diplomacy at the regional level?
A: It's not economic diplomacy. It's togetherness for a better future and better tomorrow for a coming generation of both Chinese and Pakistani people. It's a brotherhood that extends into the future. I feel that tomorrow's century is the Asian century, and we, China and Pakistan, have a role to play.
And I think if Pakistan and China were to partner together, it would be much more profitable for both our nations.
Q: Your Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi once said that "Pakistan is trying to project China as the base and Pakistan as the economic hub for China to reach Afghanistan and beyond in central Asia." How do you plan to realize this vision?
A: We already have a linkage established by our forefathers. My father-in-law and China's founding fathers founded our relationship.
The connectivity between China and Pakistan has immense potential. Through Pakistan, China can connect to Central Asia, South Asia, and Middle East.
So we feel if the billions of people in these regions are to be connected, China and Pakistan are best placed geostrategically to do that.
Q: Low-end Chinese exports to Pakistan pose a challenge to similar locally made products. What will you do if an influx of Chinese goods threatens the survival of Pakistani businesses?
A: I think they'll complement each other. Pakistan's population is a complement to China's.
Our industries can cater to local markets plus export markets. No industry can thrive only on exports. There has to be local consumption.
That is the success of China's own philosophy. The local consumption complements its exporting industry. So that's exactly what the state of affairs in Pakistan is today.
With up to 170 million plus population today, I think the consumption there can complement the exports from Pakistan. So I think Chinese and Pakistani companies can get together and produce products for that region from Pakistan.
Q: What do you think of the buzzword "China Model"? Is there anything particularly inspiring about it that you think Pakistan can adopt?
A: It's very inspiring.
I don't think Western countries will be able to emulate it. But it is a very successful model as far as China is concerned. And yes, Pakistan can emulate China.
Q: What new facets do you think are emerging in the China-Pakistan relationship since you assumed office? How do you wish to be remembered by posterity in terms of your contribution to the bilateral ties?
A: I think it's continuity. I'm co-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, which has been in power in Pakistan five times since 1967.
My late father-in-law, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was one of the founding members of this Sino-Pakistani relationship. I will be remembered for continuing and strengthening the relationship founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Q: You visited the Expo site this morning. How has the Expo helped in raising Pakistan's profile to a Chinese audience?
A: I think for the first time the similarity between cultures has been highlighted, because I don't think the young people of China realized that Buddhism started and evolved from Pakistan, or the region that is now Pakistan, 5,000 years ago.
And I think that reinforces the realization that we have not only a 60-year-old relationship, but a 5,000-year-old relationship.
Q: The theme of the Pakistan Pavilion is "Harmony in Diversity." Could you please explain the ideas behind this theme?
A: Harmony lies in the diversity of the population, the people, the migration.
The Mughals left some of their bloodlines behind. And there were wars. In spite of that, we are all living in harmony.
So many cultures meet in one single civilization, but we still live together in harmony.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari spoke to Shanghai Daily reporter Ni Tao in Shanghai on July 10 about how to enhance the Sino-Pakistani relationship, one day before he wrapped up his five-day state visit to China.
Q: You called on Chinese business leaders in Beijing to invest in hydropower and alternative energy sources in Pakistan, which you said is "facing acute power shortages." How will you attract investment?
A: There are 13,000 Chinese working in Pakistan. There are 120 projects which are under construction in Pakistan by Chinese companies. So it's a continuing relationship and all I'm trying to do is enhance it.
Q: Your China itinerary includes many provincial capitals. Is this about economic diplomacy at the regional level?
A: It's not economic diplomacy. It's togetherness for a better future and better tomorrow for a coming generation of both Chinese and Pakistani people. It's a brotherhood that extends into the future. I feel that tomorrow's century is the Asian century, and we, China and Pakistan, have a role to play.
And I think if Pakistan and China were to partner together, it would be much more profitable for both our nations.
Q: Your Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi once said that "Pakistan is trying to project China as the base and Pakistan as the economic hub for China to reach Afghanistan and beyond in central Asia." How do you plan to realize this vision?
A: We already have a linkage established by our forefathers. My father-in-law and China's founding fathers founded our relationship.
The connectivity between China and Pakistan has immense potential. Through Pakistan, China can connect to Central Asia, South Asia, and Middle East.
So we feel if the billions of people in these regions are to be connected, China and Pakistan are best placed geostrategically to do that.
Q: Low-end Chinese exports to Pakistan pose a challenge to similar locally made products. What will you do if an influx of Chinese goods threatens the survival of Pakistani businesses?
A: I think they'll complement each other. Pakistan's population is a complement to China's.
Our industries can cater to local markets plus export markets. No industry can thrive only on exports. There has to be local consumption.
That is the success of China's own philosophy. The local consumption complements its exporting industry. So that's exactly what the state of affairs in Pakistan is today.
With up to 170 million plus population today, I think the consumption there can complement the exports from Pakistan. So I think Chinese and Pakistani companies can get together and produce products for that region from Pakistan.
Q: What do you think of the buzzword "China Model"? Is there anything particularly inspiring about it that you think Pakistan can adopt?
A: It's very inspiring.
I don't think Western countries will be able to emulate it. But it is a very successful model as far as China is concerned. And yes, Pakistan can emulate China.
Q: What new facets do you think are emerging in the China-Pakistan relationship since you assumed office? How do you wish to be remembered by posterity in terms of your contribution to the bilateral ties?
A: I think it's continuity. I'm co-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, which has been in power in Pakistan five times since 1967.
My late father-in-law, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was one of the founding members of this Sino-Pakistani relationship. I will be remembered for continuing and strengthening the relationship founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Q: You visited the Expo site this morning. How has the Expo helped in raising Pakistan's profile to a Chinese audience?
A: I think for the first time the similarity between cultures has been highlighted, because I don't think the young people of China realized that Buddhism started and evolved from Pakistan, or the region that is now Pakistan, 5,000 years ago.
And I think that reinforces the realization that we have not only a 60-year-old relationship, but a 5,000-year-old relationship.
Q: The theme of the Pakistan Pavilion is "Harmony in Diversity." Could you please explain the ideas behind this theme?
A: Harmony lies in the diversity of the population, the people, the migration.
The Mughals left some of their bloodlines behind. And there were wars. In spite of that, we are all living in harmony.
So many cultures meet in one single civilization, but we still live together in harmony.
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