Chinese Premier in Islamabad

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, MAY 11 The Chinese Premier, Mr. Zhu Rongji, arrived here on a four-day official visit to a tumultuous welcome from the military establishment in Pakistan. The high-level delegation led by Mr. Rongji was received at the military base by none other than the Pakistani Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Senior Ministers and chiefs of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force were present to accord a rousing reception to the Prime Minister of a country described as an `all-weather friend' of Pakistan.

A 19-gun salute heralded the arrival of Mr. Rongji. The military base and the road which took him to the heart of Islamabad was decorated with Chinese and Pakistani flags.

Portraits of Mr. Rongji could be seen on the main thoroughfares. All the major dailies brought out special supplements to mark the occasion. After a customary call on the President, Mr. Rafiq Tarar, Mr. Rongji was closeted with Gen. Musharraf. Though the visit, first by the Chinese Premier to Pakistan in the last five years, is essentially meant to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, economic co-operation would dominate the agenda of the high- profile visit.

In his arrival statement, Mr. Rongji said that ``I am convinced that this visit will further consolidate mutual friendship and promote the partnership of all round cooperation between China and Pakistan and help to promote steadily the China-Pakistan partnership of all-round cooperation''.

An official announcement said that ``discussions between the two sides will cover bilateral relations and cooperation in the political, economic, commercial and other fields as well as an exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest'', the statement said.

Significantly on the eve of his departure a statement issued by the Chinese Government said that it would abide by its commitment on missile non-proliferation. An official of the Chinese Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying that it would not violate on its commitments on military cooperation with Pakistan.

``As far as our relationship with Pakistan is concerned, we do not link it with our relations with other countries. Our military cooperation with Pakistan is within the framework of China's commitments regarding military cooperation and that basic principle will remain unchanged, whatever our relationship with other countries'', the official was quoted as saying.

`No compromise on dignity'

Earlier talking to Chinese journalists, Gen. Musharraf said that there could be no peace in South Asia unless India is willing to enter into a serious dialogue with Kashmiris.

Gen. Musharraf reiterated that in Pakistan's perception the Kashmir dispute was the root cause of tension between the two countries. The day India realised it, peace would prevail in the region. Gen. Musharraf complained that India's ``obstinacy, insincerity and intransigence'' was the main obstacle to improving relations. Pakistan would not compromise on its ``sovereignty, honour and dignity''.

Gen. Musharraf told the journalists that Pakistan could make a significant contribution by joining the Shanghai- Five forum. On Pakistan-U.S. relations, he said Pakistan welcomed the view of the Bush administration to have `a balance' in its relations with Pakistan and India. Pakistan also appreciated the positive attitude of the new U.S. Government on sanctions against Pakistan.

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