75 years of Pak China Everlasting Friendship -

By: Arshad Khan

The 75 years of everlasting friendship and diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and China has continued to grow stronger with the passage of time. Throughout these decades, there have been no significant ups and downs in the ties between the two countries. In recent years, China has not only emerged as a global superpower, but has also stood by Pakistan during every difficult period.
May it be the fight against terrorism, or through major economic initiatives such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), at the United Nations, through timely financial assistance by supplying vaccines during Pakistan’s COVID-19 crisis, or through defence cooperation including projects such as the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, China has consistently demonstrated its commitment to Pakistan through practical actions. These steps have reinforced the belief that China’s friendship with Pakistan is “higher than the Himalayas”. Likewise, by helping operationalize the Gwadar Port project and contributing to Pakistan’s position on the global economic stage, China has demonstrated that its ties with Pakistan are “deeper than the oceans”.
Over the past 75 years, China has nurtured its friendship with Pakistan sincerely, sticking by the country as a true brother through thick and thin, rather than offering assistance based solely on its strategic interests. Unlike some Western countries, which have at times supported Pakistan only when it suited their interests and later imposed sanctions, China has maintained a consistent partnership. This is why these 75 years of diplomatic relations have transcended governments, political personalities and ideologies, evolving into a bond rooted at the people-to-people level. Today, the relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has become a relationship between two nations, one that is expected to continue strengthening in the years ahead.
Having gained independence on October 1, 1949, our neighboring country China has become one of the world’s strongest and largest economic powers through sheer hard work, determination and an unwavering drive for development. The 75-year friendship between Pakistan and China has consistently fulfilled the highest standards of bilateral relations. This friendship is often described as being higher than the mountains and deeper than the seas.
From the perspective of national interests, China has frequently been one of Pakistan’s strongest advocates and protectors. Pakistan’s history bears witness to the fact that among its most dependable friends, especially during times of hardship and national trials, have been Saudi Arabia and China.
The true measure of any friendship lies in the test of time and shared experiences. Although China is a non-Muslim country with a political system different from Pakistan’s, differences in governance have never prevented the two nations from maintaining close relations. Instead, their partnership has been based on mutual friendship, economic cooperation and shared interests.
Today, China is investing billions of dollars in development projects across Pakistan, representing a significant milestone in bilateral relations. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and related initiatives, involving approximately US$46 billion in investment, constitute one of the largest foreign investment programs in Pakistan’s history. These projects have drawn considerable attention from countries that are skeptical of Pakistan’s economic progress.
May the friendship between Pakistan and China continue to promote peace throughout the world! At the same time, both countries should remain vigilant against the schemes of those who oppose this partnership and seek to weaken the bond between the two friends.
It is evident that Pakistan-China relations rest on strong foundations. Both countries have consistently supported each other at every critical moment. Although China was established two years after Pakistan, it has transformed itself into one of the world’s leading economic powers through clear priorities, sustained effort and long-term planning. The Chinese people have demonstrated how determination, courage, self-reliance and perseverance can elevate a nation to remarkable success.
The year 2019 proved to be particularly significant for China on the global political stage. President Xi Jinping expanded the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), broadening its international reach while strengthening China’s economic partnerships across the world. Rather than becoming entangled in international conflicts, China focused on promoting economic cooperation and encouraging peaceful solutions to disputes.
During this period, the United States initiated a trade war with China. Many in the United States and Europe believed China would struggle under the pressure, but China emerged as a resilient nation with strong leadership. Following 2019, China continued pursuing ambitious goals, chief among them connecting much of the world through the Belt and Road Initiative, a project that has already achieved substantial progress. China and Russia have been connected through expanding railway networks, while efforts to strengthen rail links between China and Europe via Russia continue to advance.
China has also sought to contribute to peace in Afghanistan while largely avoiding direct involvement in global conflicts. At the same time, it has pursued efforts aimed at reducing the devastation caused by wars and supporting post-conflict reconstruction. A recent example is China’s growing investment in the Middle East. Alongside agreements with Iran, Chinese companies have begun preliminary work on reconstruction projects in war-affected Syria. Because China has not been directly involved in these conflicts, it is viewed as being in a position to contribute to rebuilding countries such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Libya.
Relations between Pakistan and China began in 1950. Since 1979, cooperation in the economic and commercial sectors has opened a new chapter in bilateral ties. Diplomatic relations gradually expanded into trade and defence cooperation, making the friendship between the two countries even stronger.
China has become one of Pakistan’s leading trading partners, while decades of defence cooperation have brought the two countries even closer. Their collaboration has also contributed to regional peace and stability, making Pakistan and China partners with closely aligned strategic interests.
China’s unwavering support for Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue, together with its historic investment through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has transformed the relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan into one of the closest international partnerships. Cooperation in civilian nuclear energy and other power-generation projects further illustrates how bilateral relations have steadily grown stronger over time.