Daily Times, Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Pakistan, China considering oil pipeline from Gwadar
* Aziz says oil refinery at Gwadar, pipeline to Western China, would quicken oil import for Beijing
* Says nuclear energy technology cooperation expanding
By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China are considering a feasibility study for an oil pipeline from Gwadar port to Western China to transport China’s oil imports from the Gulf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Tuesday.
The Gwadar and Karachi ports offer the shortest access to the Arabian Sea for Western China, as well as Central Asia, Aziz said at a seminar on 55 years of Pakistan-China relations, organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies.
An oil pipeline from Gwadar to Western China would greatly reduce the time and distance for oil transport from the Gulf to China, he said. A major oil refinery at Gwadar would further facilitate China’s oil imports.
Pakistan is now in a position to exploit its strategic location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia to promote “corridors of cooperation” including oil and gas pipelines, electricity grids, and transit trade, the prime minister said. He said the Karakorum Highway would soon be upgraded so it could remain open all year round.
The prime minister said the two countries were also expanding cooperation in nuclear energy and space technology. “A significant area of cooperation between Pakistan and China has been the harnessing of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes under international safeguards - for the production of electricity,” Aziz said. “The two countries are working towards further expanding cooperation in this area.”
Pakistan and China have always pursued their friendship for mutual benefit and never at the cost of any other country, Aziz said. “We have not sought hegemony nor shall we accept hegemony from any quarter. Our relationship is designed to promote security and cooperation with out neighbours as well as with our global partners,” he said.
“Our relations are not designed to be used against any third country. We do not subscribe to concepts such as balance of power, pre-emption and unilateralism. We believe in strengthening the United Nations system to address and resolve all regional and global issues,” he said.
Aziz said both countries seek a level playing field without trade barriers and tariff walls and Pakistan would welcome greater Chinese investment in its economy, particularly in infrastructure, telecommunication, energy, IT, construction, mining and textiles.
Answering questions, the prime minister said the biggest challenge facing the Sino-Pak relationship was to create new areas of cooperation and sustain their friendly relations.
He said Central and South Asian cooperation was imperative for the economic growth of the two regions. Stability in Afghanistan was vital to enhancing ties between the two regions vital. Pakistan is already negotiating with some Central Asian countries to create links for electricity import, he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment