DATE=1/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / PAKISTAN (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258126
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pakistan's military ruler, General Pervez
Musharraf, has begun a two-day visit to China -- an
ally of his country for more than 30 years. V-O-A
Correspondent Roger Wilkison reports diplomats in the
Chinese capital believe General Musharraf's visit is
an attempt to seek greater international acceptance of
his rule.
TEXT: China is the first non-Islamic country General
Musharraf has visited since he ousted the civilian
government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last
October. The coup has been strongly criticized in the
West. But Beijing has refrained from public comment
on the coup and says the fate of the former prime
minister -- who has been charged with treason and
hijacking -- is Pakistan's internal affair.
General Musharraf said in an interview published
Monday in the state-owned English-language "China
Daily" democracy cannot be restored overnight in
Pakistan. The Pakistani leader says he is
concentrating more on what he describes as "the agenda
at hand" than on a time frame for a return to civilian
rule. The general has pledged to revive Pakistan's
ailing economy, eliminate corruption and introduce
sweeping political reforms before holding elections.
In Beijing he is scheduled to meet with the three top
men in China's Communist hierarchy: President Jiang
Zemin, legislative boss Li Peng and Premier Zhu
Rongji. The Pakistani Embassy says the purpose of
General Musharraf's visit is to reaffirm what it calls
Pakistan's close and cordial ties with China.
The state-owned news media in China say Beijing and
Islamabad see eye-to-eye on most international issues,
including human rights. China has long been one of
Pakistan's major suppliers of weapons technology. But
it refrained from openly supporting its South Asian
ally last June when Pakistan was embroiled in a
confrontation with India over the disputed Kashmir
region.
Diplomats in Beijing say Indo-Pakistani tensions are
likely to be on General Musharraf's agenda in the
Chinese capital. India has accused Pakistan of
masterminding a hijacking of an Indian airliner last
month -- a charge Pakistan denies.
Although they have been improving of late, China's
relations with India have also entered into a delicate
phase. Earlier this month, a high-ranking Tibetan
lama fled to India and may ask for asylum there.
China -- embarrassed by his flight -- has told India
to ponder its moves carefully before granting the lama
asylum. (signed)
NEB/ RW / WD
17-Jan-2000 03:31 AM EDT (17-Jan-2000 0831 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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