04-15-2008, 03:00 AM
[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>China urged for gas pipeline plan</span></b>[/center]
BEIJING : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is pushing a proposal for gas and oil pipelines between his country and China to bolster bilateral ties, he said on Monday, during a visit that has highlighted security concerns.
Beijing has stood close to Musharraf, who came to power as a general in a coup in 1999, even as he has become increasingly vulnerable since the defeat of allies in February 18 polls.
The two countries have explored proposals to use Pakistan as a pipeline corridor, bringing oil and gas from the Middle East to China.
Musharraf told students and academics in Beijing that he had raised the idea, which has been mooted for several years, during talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.
"Pakistan is very much in favor of a pipeline between the Gulf and China through Pakistan, and I have been speaking about this with your leadership," Musharraf said.
He said a proposed gas pipeline between Iran and India through Pakistan could be expanded to include China.
Pakistan's proposals to become a main energy link for China have not moved much beyond vague talks, but Musharraf said they were "very much possible," even with the high-altitude border between the two nations.
"I'm very sure in the future that -- as Muslims say, 'InshaâAllah' -- it will happen."
China relies on imported oil for nearly half its needs and is keen to diversify supply routes away from the traffic-choked and easily blockaded Malacca strait.
<b>But Chinese industry sources have said in the past that security concerns in Pakistan make it very unlikely that the pipeline plans would take off.</b>
Musharraf's six-day visit to China ending April 15 is his first trip abroad since a new government packed with opponents was sworn in late last month.
China is a big arms partner of its neighbor Pakistan, with each side long using the other as a counter-weight to India's influence.
But Beijing also worries about security threats emanating from Pakistan -- fears that have been underscored during Musharraf's visit.
The Pakistani leader met China's President Hu Jintao on Friday on the southern Chinese island of Hainan. Hu praised their ties as "good friends, good partners and good brothers."
<b>But especially ahead of the Beijing Olympics, China is worried about security threats from Uighur militants in its northwest region of Xinjiang, who want an independent "East Turkestan" homeland for their largely Islamic people.</b>
Musharraf will wind up his visit in Urumqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang.
<b>China is concerned Uighur militants have forged links with Islamist fighters based in Pakistan, and sources earlier said that a foiled attack on a Chinese domestic flight in March involved people carrying Pakistan passports.
Hu told Musharraf that their two countries should strengthen cooperation in fighting terrorism and drugs trafficking and "enhancing security for the Olympic Games."</b>
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