Beijing: Chinese President Hu Jintao is poised to unveil an ambitious expansion of nuclear power cooperation with Pakistan when he visits next week, testing China's balance between Pakistan and its wary neighbour, India.
On the first trip to Pakistan by a Chinese President in a decade, Hu is likely to announce that China will help the South Asian nation construct several nuclear plants in coming decades, said analysts and diplomatic sources.
"The political intent is quite certain. The specifics are less certain, but this will be a political gesture above all," said one diplomatic observer in Beijing. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the official secrecy around discussions.
Islamabad has asked China to build it up to six reactors of 600 or more megawatts, at least twice the size of the 300 megawatt reactor China built at Chashma in Pakistan's eastern province of Punjab, according to the observer.
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