Zardari's visit reaffirms ties with Beijing

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's state visit to China earlier this month has proved to be productive by beefing up bilateral cooperation in sectors such as technology, energy, space science, agriculture and security, and highlighted Pakistan's commitment to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, experts said.

The five-day visit, from Feb 4 to 8, has strategic value, reaffirming the ironclad friendship between the two close neighbors, as well as their enduring strategic partnership, said Khalid Taimur Akram, executive director at the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future in Islamabad.

"The strategic partnership and resilience of the Pakistan-China relationship remain vital for regional peace, economic growth, and mutual prosperity," he said. "This visit has set a positive trajectory for deeper cooperation, reinforcing Pakistan and China's shared vision for a community with a shared future."

Zardari's trip focused on accelerating the development of Pakistan's special economic zones, such as Rashakai, Dhabeji and Allama Iqbal Industrial City, to boost industrial growth and attract Chinese investments.

Both sides agreed to promote "high-quality development" under the CPEC 2.0, Akram said, adding that key agreements were reached this time to strengthen cooperation in the CPEC, science and technology, trade, and people's welfare.

"The president's meetings prioritized integrating Pakistan's information technology sector with China's Digital Silk Road by fostering partnerships with Chinese tech giants like Huawei and Alibaba to modernize Pakistan's digital infrastructure," he said.

Akram cited the inauguration of Gwadar International Airport as a major milestone symbolizing the transformation of Gwadar Port, a major CPEC project, into a multimodal logistics hub. Cooperation has also been stepped up in mining, offshore oil exploration, and power generation projects, such as the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5, which is expected to create 40,000 jobs.

The Pakistani leader's visit has further reinforced the second phase of the CPEC, with a strong emphasis on technology and agricultural modernization, said Tahir Farooq, editor-in-chief of Daily Ittehad Media Group and Pakistan Economic Net.

The importance of deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence, big data and communication technology to drive innovation-led economic growth was also a highlight of the trip, he added.

Agriculture key focus

Agriculture also emerged as a key focus, with both sides agreeing to accelerate agricultural modernization and rural revitalization.

"China has committed to sharing advanced agricultural technologies, improving water resource management, and enhancing livestock development to boost Pakistan's agrarian economy," Farooq said. "These initiatives will play a crucial role in ensuring food security, increasing crop yields, and reducing trade deficits."

Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, executive director of the Islamabad-based Center for South Asia and International Studies, noted that Zardari's visit saw the signing of various memorandums of understanding on promoting cooperation in science and technology, media, clean energy and socioeconomic development, security and training.

It "vividly reflects the importance of further socioeconomic integration, connectivity, infrastructure development, and digitalization. Last, but not least, close media cooperation will mitigate Western political hype", he said.

The China National Space Administration and Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission signed a memorandum of understanding on Feb 5.

The accord between the two institutions on the Chang'e 8 mission, scheduled for launch in 2028, focuses on robotic exploration of the lunar South Pole, further strengthening science and space cooperation between the two countries, and creating numerous beneficial propositions, Khan said.

Strengthening counterterrorism efforts and ensuring the safety of Chinese personnel in Pakistan were also emphasized.

Khan said that further MoUs to boost intelligence-sharing and deepen cooperation on security matters would be useful in bolstering border security and counterterrorism.

vivienxu@chinadailyapac.com