BEIJING, JAN 20 /DNA/ – Drawing Strength from History for the Future —75 Years of Enduring China-Pakistan Friendship
On January 4th, the Seventh Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue was successfully held in Beijing. At this important historical juncture of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, the important consensus reached and the blueprint for cooperation outlined in this dialogue not only vividly reflect the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries but also provide significant impetus for promoting economic and social development and advancing South-South Cooperation in the new era.
The enduring strength of China-Pakistan relations is rooted in 75 years of shared trials and tribulations. Since the formal establishment of diplomatic ties in 1951, bilateral relations have steadily progressed along the right track, withstanding the test of changing international circumstances and forging a golden reputation for “ironclad friendship.” From the difficult years when the two countries support and safeguard each other’s sovereignty and independence, to the development period when the two countries jointly promote economic construction and improve people’s well-being, and now to the new era when the two countries jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative and construct a China-Pakistan community with a shared future, China-Pakistan relations have long transcended the bilateral scope, becoming a model of friendly coexistence between countries with different social systems and at different stages of development. During this dialogue, both sides officially launched activities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, drawing strength from history to move forward and ensuring that the seeds of China-Pakistan friendship are passed down from generation to generation in the hearts of the two peoples, injecting lasting momentum into the development of bilateral relations.
Mutual firm support on issues involving each other’s core interests is the ballast and guiding star of China-Pakistan relations. China and Pakistan issued a joint press communiqué, reiterating Pakistan’s firm adherence to The One-China Principle, its firm belief that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory, its support for all efforts made by China to achieve national reunification, and its opposition to any form of “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and attempts to create “two China” or “one China, one Taiwan.” Pakistan will always stand with China on issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea. China, in turn, firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, supports Pakistan in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and supports Pakistan in its firm fight against terrorism and playing a greater role in international and regional affairs. This support is not an empty slogan, but concrete action; not a stopgap measure, but a strategic choice. At a time when some countries readily draw ideological lines and grossly interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, the mutual support between China and Pakistan sets a benchmark for upholding the principles of national sovereignty, equality, and non-interference in internal affairs, injecting positive energy into the international community in upholding fairness and justice.
The transformation and upgrading of pragmatic cooperation is the most significant achievement of this dialogue. The communiqué explicitly proposes building a “2.0 upgraded version” of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), listing industry, agriculture, and mining as the three core areas of cooperation. It also emphasizes the successful construction and operation of Gwadar Port, ensuring the smooth flow of the Karakoram Highway, and fully utilizing the year-round openness of the Khunjerab-Sost Port to deepen economic, trade, and cultural exchanges. This marks a shift in the CPEC construction from the “1.0 version”, primarily focused on infrastructure connectivity, to a “2.0 version” of high-quality development centered on industrial empowerment, improvement of people’s livelihoods, and capacity building. China has consistently adhered to the principles of consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits in advancing the corridor’s construction, welcoming third-party participation in cooperation according to the agreed-upon model between China and Pakistan. This highlights the public good nature of the CPEC and provides valuable, replicable, and scalable experience for the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Collaboration in the security field is a strong guarantee for China and Pakistan to jointly address risks and challenges. Terrorism is a common threat to regional peace and stability, and both China and Pakistan deeply understand the importance of cooperation in counter-terrorism. The communiqué reaffirms a “zero-tolerance” attitude towards all forms of terrorism and agrees to further deepen comprehensive counter-terrorism and security cooperation to jointly ensure the safe and smooth progress of the Belt and Road Initiative. China fully affirms Pakistan’s important contributions and enormous sacrifices made in combating terrorism over the years; this mutual understanding and support forms a solid foundation for bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation. Both sides firmly oppose double standards on counter-terrorism issues. This clear stance addresses the current pain points in international counter-terrorism cooperation and plays an important guiding role in building international counter-terrorism efforts and maintaining regional security and stability.
At the regional and global governance level, the coordination and cooperation between China and Pakistan injects stability into a turbulent world. Both sides firmly uphold the achievements of the victory in World War II and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, resist attempts to distort historical facts, and oppose the resurgence of fascism and militarism. This is a commitment to historical justice and a cherishing of human peace. On South Asian issues, both sides reaffirmed the necessity of resolving all outstanding disputes through dialogue and consultation, and opposed any unilateral actions. On the Afghan issue, they called on the Afghan government to establish an inclusive government, govern moderately, and focus on development. On the Gaza issue, they jointly called for an unconditional, comprehensive, and permanent ceasefire, and supported the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the “Two-state solution”. These positions fully demonstrate the sense of mission and responsibility of China and Pakistan as responsible countries. Furthermore, in-depth cooperation within the frameworks of Global Development Initiatives, Global Security Initiatives, Global Civilization Initiatives and Global Governance Initiatives, as well as close coordination within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, highlights the shared pursuit of promoting a more just and equitable global governance system.
75 years of weathering storms together, the two countries walked hand in hand. The development of China-Pakistan relations proves that as long as we consistently adhere to mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, mutual trust, and mutual assistance, different countries can overcome differences and achieve win-win development. Looking ahead, with the in-depth implementation of the Action Plan to Foster an Even Closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era(2025-2029) and the accelerated advancement of the CPEC 2.0, the two countries will write a new chapter in their ironclad friendship and make new and greater contributions to regional peace and stability and global development and prosperity.
