China may help build strategic Pak. port

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 12. A high level Chinese delegation is currently in Pakistan to study the feasibility of constructing a port at Gwadar and development of coastal highway linking Karachi with Iran.

The delegation, led by the Communications Minister, Mr. Huang Zhendang, visited the Markan Coastal Highway and reviewed the pace of development work along the site.

Pakistan was very keen on Chinese assistance and involvement in these two projects and the two projects dominated the economic agenda during the recent visit of the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr. Zhu Rongji.

The military establishment in Islamabad was hopeful that an announcement about the mega-project on Gwadar port would be made during the visit of Mr. Zhu Rongji.

However, the Chinese chose to be circumspect about the project. It was in the course of his visit to Islamabad that Mr. Zhu Rongji assured his hosts that China would do its best to consider its involvement in the construction of the two vital projects.

He announced that on his return to Beijing he would depute the Communications Minister to assess the level of Chinese financial and technical assistance for these two projects.

Pakistan's request to China for involvement in construction of the port has been a cause of concern for the United States, its allies in the Gulf and countries like Iran.

The perception is the involvement of China in the project would provide it the much-needed strategic point to keep a watchful eye on the Gulf. There have been reports in a section of the press that the U.S. has conveyed its concerns about the project.

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Section  : International
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