论文部分内容阅读
A time-tested friend-ship still has room for improvement， as demonstrated by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s recent trip to Pakistan. China and Pakistan have agreed to promote trade and economic cooperation to improve their friendship. They believe win-win cooperation built upon traditional friendship will not only benefit their “iron brotherhood，” but also make great advancements in terms of regional development and security.
Higher expectations
Li’s Pakistan trip illustrates to the world that China and Pakistan share a solid friendship that will not be influenced by a change of the government. Also， the two sides have agreed to enhance their strategic cooperative partnership to adapt to changing situations.
Pakistan was the second stop of Li’s first overseas trip as China’s new head of government. And the Chinese premier was the first foreign leader to visit Pakistan in the wake of the country’s general elections.
“The trip illustrates that the China-Pakistan relationship is steady and will not be influenced by the transition period now underway between two successive Pakistani prime ministers，” Li Qingyan， a researcher on South Asian studies with the China Institute of International Studies， said to Beijing Review.
After establishing diplomatic relations in 1951， the two countries have forged a longstanding friendship， described by some as“higher than the mountains and deeper than the oceans.” Both have expressed confidence in preserving and deepening this friendship.
“The two countries are partners that can trust and rely on each other，” said Premier Li， when meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on May 22. Despite complex and volatile regional and global circumstances， the two countries have already maintained sound strategic communication and coordination， Li noted.
“I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate to the Pakistani people and the international community that the new Chinese Government will continue to pursue a policy of friendship with Pakistan. We will work together with Pakistan to uphold and grow China-Pakistan relations and take more pragmatic steps to bring more benefits to our two peoples. China and Pakistan should remain good， trustworthy partners and good， sincere and reliable brothers，”he stressed.
For his part， Zardari said the Chinese premier’s visit， which came at a time when Pakistan is undergoing historic changes， set another important milestone in bilateral ties and would further push forward the relationship between the two countries. “China is a true friend and reliable partner of Pakistan，” said Zardari. The two sides also released a joint statement on deepening China-Pakistan comprehensive strategic cooperation， which mapped out a grand blueprint for the pursuit of common development by both countries. “We are confident that this will instill a new impetus into China-Pakistan cooperation and enable China-Pakistan relations to make greater strides forward from a new starting point，” said Premier Li on May 22.
“The China-Pakistan friendship will undoubtedly be deepened and improved to a new phase，” predicted Li Qingyan. She pointed out that both China and Pakistan have new governments in 2013， allowing for a good opportunity to boost bilateral relations. Nawaz Sharif， who is set to begin his third term as Pakistani prime minister， has shown persistent friendliness toward China.
Chinese observers believe that boosting the China-Pakistan relationship holds significance for both countries as well as the greater region.
Wang Xu， a researcher on Pakistani studies with Peking University， said that terrorism has posed a major threat to all countries in the region， including China and Pakistan. In the past years， the two natoins have been strengthening military cooperation within bilateral and multilateral frameworks. An improved bilateral relationship will stabilize the regional situation in South Asia， Wang said.
Li Qingyan pointed out that Premier Li’s trip to Pakistan showed the close attention paid by China to its neighborhood including South Asia. During the visit， the Chinese premier suggested the two sides begin formulating a long-term plan for the China-Pakistan economic corridor project and gradually push forward its construction.
“Such a corridor will give a boost to regional development，” said Li Qingyan.
Economic potential
In recent years， China and Pakistan have been strengthening their economic ties in parallel with political and military cooperation. Chinese observers believe that in seizing the development opportunity， China and Pakistan will set a new high to their traditional friendship by promoting trade and economic cooperation.
“I look forward to discussions with the Pakistani Government and public leaders to find ways to deepen the China-Pakistan comprehensive strategic cooperation in a new era， so that our two countries will be better able to meet challenges， achieve common development and lift China-Pakistan relations to a new high，” said Premier Li.
“Premier Li’s trip to Pakistan can be considered a new starting point to developing bilateral economic cooperation，” said Li Qingyan. She noticed that as China is at a crucial period of economic transformation， Pakistan is also at a key phase of development. The bilateral trade volume does not match up with their close relationship， she said， adding that the two sides have put much thought into exploring potential cooperation. In recent years， bilateral trade has kept growing in spite of the global economic slowdown， yielding great dividends for the peoples in the two countries. The bilateral trade volume hit a record high of $12.4 billion in 2012， up 17.6 percent from the previous year. Pakistan’s exports to China saw a 48.2-percent rise in 2012， greatly enhancing the two sides’ confidence about boosting economic cooperation.
Pakistan is the first country in South Asia to acknowledge China’s market economy status and sign a free trade agreement with China. It is China’s top investment destination and overseas contract market in South Asia. By the end of 2012， Chinese investment had totaled $25.26 billion. China is Pakistan’s second largest trade partner and fourth largest export market， and steady progress has been made in cooperation in energy， agriculture， infrastructure， telecommunications and financial services.
It is expected that the two sides will reach their goal of raising their trade volume to $15 billion in 2015 ahead of schedule. Li spoke with Pakistani leaders about the formulation of a long-term plan for boosting bilateral business cooperation. “Our two sides should focus on carrying out priority projects in energy development and power generation and promoting the building of a China-Pakistan economic corridor，” he said.
In spite of rapid development in recent years， there is still space for the two sides to make improvement， said Wang of Peking University. For example， Chinese enterprises’investment still focuses on infrastructure. In the coming years， China can expand investment in the Pakistani processing sector.
Li Qingyan believes power and energy shortages have posed big obstacles to attract Chinese investors. She suggested that China provide more support to Pakistan when it seeks more energy to satisfy its domestic demands. A better developed Pakistan will be in accord with China’s west development policy， as well as benefiting west and central China. Li Qingyan is confident about bilateral economic cooperation， hinting the two sides will make breakthroughs on large-scale projects.
Boosting economic cooperation will also offer good opportunities for the younger generation of both countries， said Li， the researcher. She explained that as more and more Chinese enterprises invest in Pakistan， more young Pakistanis are learning Mandarin to find better jobs， while some seek training opportunities in China. “This is a good torch relay of the ChinaPakistan friendship.”
Higher expectations
Li’s Pakistan trip illustrates to the world that China and Pakistan share a solid friendship that will not be influenced by a change of the government. Also， the two sides have agreed to enhance their strategic cooperative partnership to adapt to changing situations.
Pakistan was the second stop of Li’s first overseas trip as China’s new head of government. And the Chinese premier was the first foreign leader to visit Pakistan in the wake of the country’s general elections.
“The trip illustrates that the China-Pakistan relationship is steady and will not be influenced by the transition period now underway between two successive Pakistani prime ministers，” Li Qingyan， a researcher on South Asian studies with the China Institute of International Studies， said to Beijing Review.
After establishing diplomatic relations in 1951， the two countries have forged a longstanding friendship， described by some as“higher than the mountains and deeper than the oceans.” Both have expressed confidence in preserving and deepening this friendship.
“The two countries are partners that can trust and rely on each other，” said Premier Li， when meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on May 22. Despite complex and volatile regional and global circumstances， the two countries have already maintained sound strategic communication and coordination， Li noted.
“I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate to the Pakistani people and the international community that the new Chinese Government will continue to pursue a policy of friendship with Pakistan. We will work together with Pakistan to uphold and grow China-Pakistan relations and take more pragmatic steps to bring more benefits to our two peoples. China and Pakistan should remain good， trustworthy partners and good， sincere and reliable brothers，”he stressed.
For his part， Zardari said the Chinese premier’s visit， which came at a time when Pakistan is undergoing historic changes， set another important milestone in bilateral ties and would further push forward the relationship between the two countries. “China is a true friend and reliable partner of Pakistan，” said Zardari. The two sides also released a joint statement on deepening China-Pakistan comprehensive strategic cooperation， which mapped out a grand blueprint for the pursuit of common development by both countries. “We are confident that this will instill a new impetus into China-Pakistan cooperation and enable China-Pakistan relations to make greater strides forward from a new starting point，” said Premier Li on May 22.
“The China-Pakistan friendship will undoubtedly be deepened and improved to a new phase，” predicted Li Qingyan. She pointed out that both China and Pakistan have new governments in 2013， allowing for a good opportunity to boost bilateral relations. Nawaz Sharif， who is set to begin his third term as Pakistani prime minister， has shown persistent friendliness toward China.
Chinese observers believe that boosting the China-Pakistan relationship holds significance for both countries as well as the greater region.
Wang Xu， a researcher on Pakistani studies with Peking University， said that terrorism has posed a major threat to all countries in the region， including China and Pakistan. In the past years， the two natoins have been strengthening military cooperation within bilateral and multilateral frameworks. An improved bilateral relationship will stabilize the regional situation in South Asia， Wang said.
Li Qingyan pointed out that Premier Li’s trip to Pakistan showed the close attention paid by China to its neighborhood including South Asia. During the visit， the Chinese premier suggested the two sides begin formulating a long-term plan for the China-Pakistan economic corridor project and gradually push forward its construction.
“Such a corridor will give a boost to regional development，” said Li Qingyan.
Economic potential
In recent years， China and Pakistan have been strengthening their economic ties in parallel with political and military cooperation. Chinese observers believe that in seizing the development opportunity， China and Pakistan will set a new high to their traditional friendship by promoting trade and economic cooperation.
“I look forward to discussions with the Pakistani Government and public leaders to find ways to deepen the China-Pakistan comprehensive strategic cooperation in a new era， so that our two countries will be better able to meet challenges， achieve common development and lift China-Pakistan relations to a new high，” said Premier Li.
“Premier Li’s trip to Pakistan can be considered a new starting point to developing bilateral economic cooperation，” said Li Qingyan. She noticed that as China is at a crucial period of economic transformation， Pakistan is also at a key phase of development. The bilateral trade volume does not match up with their close relationship， she said， adding that the two sides have put much thought into exploring potential cooperation. In recent years， bilateral trade has kept growing in spite of the global economic slowdown， yielding great dividends for the peoples in the two countries. The bilateral trade volume hit a record high of $12.4 billion in 2012， up 17.6 percent from the previous year. Pakistan’s exports to China saw a 48.2-percent rise in 2012， greatly enhancing the two sides’ confidence about boosting economic cooperation.
Pakistan is the first country in South Asia to acknowledge China’s market economy status and sign a free trade agreement with China. It is China’s top investment destination and overseas contract market in South Asia. By the end of 2012， Chinese investment had totaled $25.26 billion. China is Pakistan’s second largest trade partner and fourth largest export market， and steady progress has been made in cooperation in energy， agriculture， infrastructure， telecommunications and financial services.
It is expected that the two sides will reach their goal of raising their trade volume to $15 billion in 2015 ahead of schedule. Li spoke with Pakistani leaders about the formulation of a long-term plan for boosting bilateral business cooperation. “Our two sides should focus on carrying out priority projects in energy development and power generation and promoting the building of a China-Pakistan economic corridor，” he said.
In spite of rapid development in recent years， there is still space for the two sides to make improvement， said Wang of Peking University. For example， Chinese enterprises’investment still focuses on infrastructure. In the coming years， China can expand investment in the Pakistani processing sector.
Li Qingyan believes power and energy shortages have posed big obstacles to attract Chinese investors. She suggested that China provide more support to Pakistan when it seeks more energy to satisfy its domestic demands. A better developed Pakistan will be in accord with China’s west development policy， as well as benefiting west and central China. Li Qingyan is confident about bilateral economic cooperation， hinting the two sides will make breakthroughs on large-scale projects.
Boosting economic cooperation will also offer good opportunities for the younger generation of both countries， said Li， the researcher. She explained that as more and more Chinese enterprises invest in Pakistan， more young Pakistanis are learning Mandarin to find better jobs， while some seek training opportunities in China. “This is a good torch relay of the ChinaPakistan friendship.”