China pleads India-like nuke deal for Pakistan

NEW DELHI—The Chinese government has advocated a nuclear deal for Pakistan similar to the one being worked upon for India. China made the case for Pakistan in a veiled statement, saying it hoped the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) would ‘equally address the aspirations of all parties.’ A number of analysts have taken the phrase ‘of all parties’ to mean a reference to its ally Pakistan.
Chinese Foreign Minister, Cheng Jingye, head of Chinese delegation scheduled to visit on Sunday said, “It is also China’s hope that the NSG would equally address the aspirations of all parties for the peaceful use of nuclear power while adhering to the nuclear non-proliferation mechanism.” During visit to India, the Chinese Foreign Minister will hold negotiations with India on their long-standing border dispute. Cheng Jingye will meet his Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee, prime minister, Manmohan Singh and other high officials and discuss matters including free trade.
Asif Ali Zardari, the president-elect of Pakistan, will visit China next week to negotiate a nuclear deal similar to the one between India and the US, an official said Monday. “Pakistan is already in touch with China for the nuclear deal to meet its energy crisis and the talks would start during Zardari’s visit,” an official told IANS on condition of anonymity.
Zardari, who was elected president on Saturday, will be sworn in Tuesday and has already announced that his first foreign visit will be to China. The official said that under the proposed deal, China will supply nuclear material to Pakistan to meet its energy crisis. “This has nothing to do with the US-India deal but that has certainly provided us a way out to meet our energy crisis,” he said.
For the last many years, Pakistan has failed to meet its growing energy needs and the situation has worsened since November 2007, with the country facing massive power cuts and adopting summer time to benefit the most from daylight and save energy. “Of course it will take time to finalise the deal after going through its details but the initial talks would start during Zardari’s visit and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) may be signed for reaching an agreement,” said the official.
Zardari’s visit will coincide with the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games Sep 17. “Zardari will participate in the closing ceremony as well,” said the official. Pakistan and China have a long history of close cooperation that started in early 50s and saw stronger ties during former prime minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s era.
China has expressed hopes that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) would “equally address the aspirations of all parties” when it comes to the transfer of nuclear technology. Chinese Foreign Minister Cheng Jingye - currently on a three-day diplomatic visit to India - says China is interested in fulfilling the needs of all parties when it comes to nuclear technology.
Most analysts believe that the mention of ‘all parties’ is a veiled reference to Pakistan, and hints at the inking of a deal similar to the one announced by the nuclear suppliers group in favour of the transfer of nulcear technology to India.

—Agencies