Pak, China to boost co-op in energy sector
From Max Lee
The Daily Mail’s Special
Correspondent in Beijing

BEIJING—Adviser to the Prime Minister on energy Mukhtar Ahmed said that cooperation between Pak and China in hydropower, nuclear power generation and mineral sectors will further strengthened.
About Sino-Pak cooperation in the energy sector, Mukhtar Ahmed said the two countries shared common economic perceptions and wished to strengthen their partnership, particularly in the energy sector through an institutionalized mechanism.
The two countries, he said could share their expertise and resources for the development of oil and gas, coal and renewable energy resources. During the Euro-Asian meeting, Mukhtar said, he also availed the opportunity to hold talks with Chinese officials and participants from other countries for making their on-going cooperation in energy sector more effective.
He said the Chinese companies will be welcomed to participate in oil and gas exploration activities, particularly off-shore sector. Pakistan, he said also attached great importance to its cooperation with China in the development of its coal resources.
The Chinese company, Xinhua Group has shown willingness to undertake the coal power project. He said during his stay in Xi¡¯an, he held a meeting with a senior company official who was invited to visit Pakistan for settling down necessary terms and conditions.
We could take advantage of experiences China had, and we also have expertise to contribute since Pak is one of the oldest gas infrastructures in the world,¡± he told DM. ¡°We have been use gas for more then 50 years, since 1954. We have considerable knowledge to contribute and we have thousands kilometers of transfer and distribution line. So this is perhaps the area we can offer advice.¡± Natural gas is very small contributor towards china¡¯s primary energy supply, but china is aiming to increase that, so perhaps we could help in that process.
We also are looking forward cooperation beyond energy sector. About the Euro-Asian Forum that was attended by senior officials from 20 countries, he said it was a productive one and helped to enhance interactions among the regional countries, developing mutually beneficial cooperative partnership, particularly in the energy and tourism sectors.
Delegates from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, India, Iran, Japan, the Republic of Korea as well as China also attended the meeting that reached an agreement, continuing process  of consultation to achieve stipulated goals for their common development. Pakistan was also represented at the meeting by Ambassador Salman Bashir.
Regarding the Iran-Pak-India Pipeline issue, he would lead a delegation to Tehran next week to hold talks with their Iranian counterparts on the proposed multi-billion-dollar natural gas pipeline project. He told DM in an interview here Saturday that he discussed the matter with the Iranian Deputy Petroleum Minister Mohammad Hadi Nejad Hosseinian during his two-day stay in Xi¡¯an, capital of China Shaanxi Province.
They met on the sideline of Euro-Asian Economic Forum that discussed proposals relating to energy cooperation among the regional countries. Mukhtar hoped that this important project which also involves India would be finalized soon. We are engaged in finalizing the basic principles and guideline by the end of next month for executing the project, he added.
On its return from Tehran, the Pakistan delegation will also visit India. A joint working group has already made a considerable progress to reach a final conclusion, he said., All the three countries are keen to resolve various relevant issues through mutual consultation.