Economic/Political

Musharraf Meets With Chinese Leaders

DOI 13 April 2008

XINHUA (BEIJING) - During a meeting with visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China will actively participate in the infrastructure construction in Pakistan and encourage Chinese business to invest in the country in order to realize the sustainable development of cooperation. Musharraf noted that Pakistan will continue to maintain close high-level exchanges, advance bilateral free trade, so as to realize the bilateral trade volume amounting to 15 billion U.S. dollars by 2011. In addition to meeting with Wen, Musharraf also met Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee – the primary, and only legal, outlet for minority groups in China.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/13/content_7969694.htm

(Reliability: 8)

Analysis: Musharraf visit likely had three objectives. First, meeting with CPPCC chairman Jia indicates the importance of this body. The CCPPCC functions as a political outlet for minority groups within China. Musharraf’s visit with Jia likely indicates Pakistan’s concern over recent Tibetan protests. Second, Musharraf visit is likely an attempt to reach out to China, in order to counterbalance pressure from Washington over the recent violence in Pakistan. Third, Musharraf likely is attempting to discuss the violence in Karachi and how is impacts the importation of China’s energy.

(Analytic Confidence: 8)