bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Reuters

Follow @SCMP_News
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang praised the Sino-Pakistan relationship on Thursday, urging the “all-weather friends” to boost cooperation in business, trade, energy and infrastructure and build a long-vaunted economic corridor.
But not everyone is convinced China has Pakistan interests at heart.
Li arrived in the Pakistani capital on Wednesday on the second leg of his first official trip since taking office in March and after a visit to Pakistan and China’s arch rival, India. He leaves for Switzerland and Germany later on Thursday.
“We want to achieve dynamic balance in our trade,” Li said in an address to the Senate.
“We are ready to work with Pakistan to speed up the project of upgrading the Karakoram Highway, actively explore and develop the long-term plans of building a China-Pakistan economic corridor, expanding our shared interests.”
The Karakoram Highway, built through towering mountains with China’s help, links northern Pakistan with western China.
Li expressed hope for financial, maritime, agricultural, defence and energy cooperation, and praised Pakistan for its “tenacity and fortitude” and “creating one miracle after another”.
“The China-Pakistan friendship has stood the test of hardship and is more precious than gold,” he said.
But some observers have expressed doubts at the prospects of such an economic miracle.
“Pakistan’s leaders love using laughably outrageous metaphors in describing the country’s relationship with China, yet the truth is that this so-called alliance means almost nothing positive for the Pakistani economy,” the Express Tribune newspaper said.
“The fact of the matter is that China will give Pakistan almost nothing, and this two-day trip is really only being made by the Chinese premier to avoid slapping Islamabad in the face completely, after having made his first trip abroad a three-day visit to India, in a key signal about the real shifts in Chinese foreign policy.”
Li this week offered India a “handshake across the Himalayas” and said the two old rivals, the world’s two most populous nations, could become a new engine for the global economy – if they could avoid friction.
Chinese trade with India is expected to reach US$100 billion a year within two years. China’s trade with Pakistan rose above a measly US$12 billion for the first time last year.
“The sooner Pakistan wakes up from the ‘China is our friend’ delusion, the sooner we will stop giving control of the country’s economic resources for almost nothing in return,” the newspaper said.


In 2015, China announces end to one-child policy – from the SCMP archive

China’s Communist Party pays tribute to late premier Li Keqiang on 70th birth anniversary

How China’s overlooked financial system enabled its industrial success

More China trips, less diplomacy: what does Li Qiang’s schedule reveal about the changing role of premier?

Li Keqiang

Li Keqiang urges development of ‘China-Pakistan economic corridor’

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (left) meets with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (centre) and interim Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

Premier Li Keqiang offers to help end Pakistan's energy crisis

Premier Li Keqiang inspects a Pakistani guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi. Photo: AFP

Li Keqiang pledges stronger partnership with Pakistan

Premier Li Keqiang (centre, front) is welcomed by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and interim Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso upon his arrival in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

Pakistani port Gwadar aids China's maritime expansion plans

A Chinese state-owned company will manage the Pakistani port of Gwadar, giving Beijing overland access to the Arabian Sea. Photo: AFP

Gwadar Port

News

China

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang praised the Sino-Pakistan relationship on Thursday, urging the “all-weather friends” to build a long-vaunted economic corridor.


Li Keqiang urges development of ‘China-Pakistan economic corridor’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chinese Premier Li Keqiang praised the Sino-Pakistan relationship on Thursday, urging the “all-weather friends” to build a long-vaunted economic corridor.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang praised the Sino-Pakistan relationship on Thursday, urging the “all-weather friends” to build a long-vaunted economic corridor.