Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Islamabad today for two days of consultations with his Pakistani counterparts. Massive infrastructure projects are on the agenda, including coal and renewable energy plants, as well as a large highway project that will include pipelines and fiber optic cables leading to the port of Gwadar in Baluchistan. Islamabad is also looking to secure the purchase of up to eight Chinese submarines during Xi’s visit. If the sub deal is finalized, observers are not counting on it to be publicized during Xi’s visit.From the Pakistan Herald:
Indian policymakers are no doubt watching the visit closely. Beyond the submarines, the development of Gwadar could give the Chinese navy an important foothold in the region. Last week, China secured a 40-year lease to operate the Gwadar port itself, which has been in development for years and could be completed as early as this year.Pakistani officials have suggested the project could hit $46 billion, but at least one source has pegged the looming deal at $28 billion. In either case, the investment dwarfs the previous U.S. investment project in Pakistan, which totaled $7.5 billion in 2009 and is considered a “massive failure” by some analysts. The United States has contributed $31 billion in aid to Pakistan since 2002, but most of it has gone to bolstering security services....MORE
Pakistan and China sign agreements for 8030 MW 14 power projects
And from the Daily Times (PK):
Chinese delegation assures to invest $3.5bn in Thar coal project
