DATE=1/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-PAKISTAN (L-O)
NUMBER=2-258159
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China has rolled out the red carpet for Pakistan's
military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, who is on a two-
day visit to Beijing. V-O-A's Stephanie Ho reports General
Musharraf met with China's top three leaders, including
Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
TEXT: When General Musharraf seized power in October in a
military coup, China said it was very concerned. Official
Chinese media coverage of the Pakistani leader's visit to
Beijing indicates those concerns may no longer exist.
The headline in Tuesday's China Daily newspaper reads
"Friends, No Matter What." The photo next to the headline
shows Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji offering a toast to a
smiling General Musharraf.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Zhu Bangzao, says the Chinese
Premier hailed what he dubbed a comprehensive partnership
and thanked Pakistan for its support on issues concerning
China. Mr. Zhu, speaking through an interpreter, added
that China and Pakistan have been good neighbors for a long
time.
// ZHU INTERPRETER ACT //
We cherish Sino-Pakistani traditional friendship against
the constantly changing international regional situation.
// END ACT //
When asked whether the two sides discussed the coup that
brought General Musharraf to power, Mr. Zhu said China sees
that as a strictly internal Pakistani matter.
// ZHU INTERPRETER ACT //
I think that Pakistan and China are friendly neighbors, and
the internal affairs of Pakistan are its internal issues.
China will never interfere.
// END ACT //
General Musharraf visited China last May, during a critical
military standoff between Pakistan and India over the
disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. Mr. Zhu expressed
China's desire for a non-violent resolution to the Kashmir
issue.
// ZHU INTERPRETER ACT //
China sincerely hopes that India and Pakistan will
effectively implement the resolution 1172 of the U-N
Security Council and prevent the further escalating of the
arms race in the region, and work together to preserve
peace and stability in the region.
// END ACT //
Another issue causing tension between India and Pakistan is
last month's hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane, which
New Delhi says was masterminded by Islamabad.
The Chinese spokesman said General Musharraf reassured the
head of China's congress, Li Peng, that that was not the
case.
// ZHU INTERPRETER ACT //
Pakistan has always been opposed to terrorists and is
opposed to terrorist activities by any people, any group,
or any country, by using religious reasons.
// END ACT //
Mr. Zhu says there has actually been a decline in economic
cooperation between China and Pakistan and pledged the
Chinese government will continue to encourage Chinese
enterprises to invest in Pakistan. (signed)
NEB/HO/GC/FC
18-Jan-2000 05:23 AM EDT (18-Jan-2000 1023 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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