Chinese president applauds Pakistan's anti-terror efforts

ISLAMABAD — Chinese President Xi Jinping today (April 21) applauded Pakistan’s anti-terrorism efforts in a speech to parliament, vowing his nation would continue to stand by its neighbour.

Lawmakers gave Mr Xi a standing ovation after his address, aired live on state-run Pakistani TV. Legislators, military leaders and foreign ambassadors all attended the speech.

Mr Xi pledged in his speech that China and Pakistan will always move forward together and the Chinese people will always stand together with the Pakistani people.

In his own address after Mr Xi, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif pledged to strengthen ties between the two countries.

“We will fight together to eliminate the menace of terrorism,” he said.

Mr Xi arrived yesterday to Islamabad on a two-day visit, where he and Mr Sharif oversaw their ministers and other officials signing 51 deals.

Mr Xi brought with him investment projects worth US$45 billion (S$61 billion) in energy and infrastructure construction, Pakistani Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said. Up to US$37 billion would be spent on Pakistan’s troubled electrical grid, Mr Iqbal said.

Of the total investment, Mr Iqbal said, US$28 billion projects were ready to be rolled out, while it will take three to five years for rest of them to take start.

China and Pakistan long have maintained close political and military relations, based partly on mutual antipathy toward neighbour India. However, stronger China-India ties have challenged that perception and Mr Xi’s visit seems intended to reassure Pakistan.

Mr Xi postponed a visit to Islamabad last year due to anti-government protests in Pakistan and instead travelled to India. China also is eager to boost trade and investment with New Delhi, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Beijing in the coming weeks.

China is a leading arms supplier to Pakistan and has sought its help in combating anti-Chinese Islamic separatists reportedly hiding in Pakistan’s lawless tribal areas. China also wants to enlist Pakistan’s help in stabilising Afghanistan as US and international troops wind down their presence there.

After their speeches today, Mr Xi and Mr Sharif left for the nearby presidential palace where Mr Xi received Pakistan’s top civilian award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan. AP