By Shannon Tiezzi
If Pakistan can’t show progress on Beijing’s security concerns, economic cooperation will stall.
China and Pakistan issued a joint statement Wednesday after Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. As expected, there was a heavy focus on the economic aspect of China-Pakistan relations, especially on the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Early reports of pending deals to construct the Gwadar International airport and to upgrade the Karakorum highway between Pakistan and China were confirmed with the official signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), according to China Daily.
However, the official statements after the visit also revealed a growing concern within China about Pakistan’s ability to safeguard Chinese interests. Buried within the joint statement, China expressed its appreciation for “Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Chinese citizens and investments in Pakistan.” Though its couched in reassuring diplomatic speak, the inclusion of this sentence actually reveals the depth of China’s concern over the security of its people and investments. China would only ask for such a commitment if it believed “safety and security” were not a given.
Read the full story at The Diplomat