‘Pak, China inked nuke deal in 2009’
Amid concerns expressed by India and the US about the new Sino-Pak nuclear deal, Pakistan has claimed that the agreement to build two atomic reactors was inked in 2009 itself during President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit here, though China notified NSG about it only in June.
A spokesperson for Mr Zardari, who is currently again on a six-day visit to China, said Beijing has demonstrated yet again its strong support to Islamabad by categorically reiterating that it will go ahead with the construction of the two nuclear reactors.
An agreement which “goes along well with the international non-proliferation obligations of China and Pakistan” was signed during Mr Zardari’s 2009 visit here, the President’s press secretary Farhatullah Babar was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s official APP news agency.
His remarks came as Pakistan’s ambassador to China, Masood Khan, said the issues relating to nuclear plants would certainly be on the agenda of Mr Zardari’s talks with the Chinese leaders. “Our cooperation is transparent and will be under the IAEA safeguard,” Mr Khan said.
The news about China’s plans to build nuclear reactors for Pakistan was first carried by China National Nuclear Corporation on its website in March this year. China notified the Nuclear Suppliers Group about its plan in this regard in June. On his arrival here on Tuesday night, Mr Zardari said “we believe that China is a factor of stability in the region.”
“This is my fifth visit to China since October 2008 and I have truly been inspired by the remarkable achievements of the Chinese people,” he said.
Strengthening of cooperation with China is one of the key principles guiding Pakistan’s foreign policy, he said, adding that his visit is aimed at pushing forward the process of strategic engagement, enhancing economic and trade ties and bolstering people-to-people contacts to lend greater depth and a newer perspective to the bilateral relations.
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