President’s right focus on China

PRESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari has rightly prioritized China on his agenda, as he would again be leaving on a visit to the friendly country on August 31, the eighth one after assuming the office of the President in September 2008. This speaks volumes about the importance the President and his PPP Government is attaching to solidify further relations with China that has proved to be an all weather friend of the country.

As per details made available by the Foreign Office spokesperson on Thursday, the main engagement of the President in China would be participation in China-Eurasia Expo being held in Urumqi but taking advantage of his presence there, he would also be having meaningful interaction with the political leadership of that country and the business community. Otherwise too, his decision to participate in an international trade fair where Pakistan is taking part in a big way is indication of the fact that the President lays emphasis on promotion of trade and commercial ties with China. His presence would also dispel the impression created by hostile propaganda by some vested foreign forces that Pakistan has, in any way, any hand in the recent trouble in the eastern Xinjiang province last month. It is heartening to note that during previous visits of the President to China, the two countries signed over fifty agreements and MoUs for cooperation in various fields. In fact, China has proved to be a willing and enthusiastic partner in the socio-economic development of Pakistan but we have so far failed ourselves because of bureaucratic tendencies to delay implementation of the agreements and understanding reached for the purpose. President Zardari himself has been holding regular meetings to ensure follow up action but despite that the progress is not as satisfactory as it should have been especially in areas like cooperation in building small and big dams and energy projects. We hope that the President would lay right focus on this aspect as well to translate his efforts into reality.

Pakistan Observer