On 21 May 1951, Pakistan became the first Muslim-majority state to recognize the People’s Republic of China, formally establishing diplomatic relations less than two years after the PRC’s founding Seventy-five years later, the relationship is described in both capitals as an All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and, since 2026, as a Community with a Shared Future in the New Era.
The partnership has evolved from border settlement and tactical alignment against India to a deeply integrated defence ecosystem where China supplied 80% of Pakistan’s major arms imports in 2021-25 to an economic corridor valued at $62 billion that has added 8,000 MW of power and 510 km of expressways. At the same time, structural trade imbalance persists, with 2024-25 imports from China at $17 billion against exports of $2.7 billion 7, and security threats to Chinese personnel have become the binding constraint on CPEC. The 75th anniversary has been marked by a Rs75 commemorative coin, a first-ever Panda Bond issue of RMB 1.75 billion ($250 million) oversubscribed more than five times and a new Action Plan for 2025-2029 to upgrade CPEC to version 2.0.
Diplomatic relations were established on 21 May 1951. Pakistan’s early recognition was driven by strategic necessity as a counterweight to India, even as it joined SEATO in 1954 and CENTO in 1955 . Forward diplomatic ties, in 1955 Bandung conf, Chairman Zhu En viewed Pakistan not as an adversary in his speech,1963- Sino Pakistan Boundary Agreement It was signed on 2nd March In which Pakistan transferred control shucks gum Valley almost 5180km square area. 1966 Pakistan military assistance by China. 1971 secret passenger flight by PIA from Islamabad to Beijing. Does Pakistan Facilitated China and rapprochement in 1973 Pakistan China entered into a strategic collage It was post 1971 war. China vetoed Bangladesh admission t United Nations. Bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement it was signed between two countries which paved the way Future assistance. Karakorum Highway was completed jointly a Thirteen hundred kilometre a road link China Pakistan. This route later on laid the foundation CPEC. By 1979 both countries progress in their relationship trump defence to economic. Winter in 2005 a treaty of friendship was between the two countries laying the legal foundation for all relationship. In follow up China Pakistan Free agreement enters in its first phase(CPFTA). ERI was announced by TR in 2013 at the same time CPEC they gave the flagship project this corridor. To assist Pakistan China eliminates tar on 313 Pakistan goods. The part two CPF was signed in January 2020. This year Pakistan issued PANDA bonds are well received and oversubscribed. Pakistan government is also issued a Rs 75 coin to celebrate the occasion of 70 anniversary of the relationship
The relationship has been described as “higher than mountains, deeper than oceans” but analysts note structural complementarity rather than ideological affinity has sustained it
Strategic Importance and Cooperation for China, Pakistan offers: Overland access to the Indian Ocean, mitigating the Malacca Dilemma. China imports ~80% of crude oil through the Strait of Malacca, a chokepoint vulnerable to blockade, Gwadar and CPEC provide a theoretical bypass .Shorter energy and trade route: Kashgar to Gwadar is ~2,700 km versus ~9,000 km saving via sea, and Gwadar sits outside Hormuz, offering access to Central Asian Republics via 2,600 km route versus 4,500 km via Iran. : Stability in Xinjiang and Baluchistan are important.
For Pakistan, China provides: Strategic depth against India, diplomatic cover Economic lifeline when Western financing is conditional. Above all , Alternative to US alliance volatility.
The May 2026 Joint Statement reaffirmed that in a world undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership has taken on even more strategic importance China’s engagement is explicitly framed as maintaining balance of power vis-a-vis India. Pakistan occupies a key position in China’s South Asian policy to counterbalance a rising India seen as nuclear competitor . However,
“Without India as a shared threat, the Pakistan-China relationship would look very different… structural logic has persisted decade after decade” .The May 2025 India-Pakistan confrontation became a live demonstration of Chinese systems against Western and Russian platforms. Pakistan deployed J-10CE fighters armed with PL-15 missiles, HQ-9/P air defence, and Chinese early-warning and EW systems, reportedly achieving operational validation . Analysts summarized the division of labour as “Chinese kit, American convening,” as Washington brokered the ceasefire . Important , China cannot act as neutral mediator while disputing borders with India and competing globally, limiting its crisis-management role compared to the US.
Defence Cooperation: Pakistan’s Military Backbone According to SIPRI, China accounted for 80% of Pakistan’s major arms imports in 2021-25, up from 73% in the previous period and 81% between 2020-24 according to some datasets . The cooperation spans Air, Land and sea. Strategically in present volatile geostrategic spectrum Pakistan the status of Fulcrum between three nuclear powers all buying to have influence with Pakistan. China’s vision not use the force but economic. Over the contribution of China, the display of arms evolution and above our Intel operability of the equipment it provided has gone a long way to strengthen Pakistan’s armed forces. Today the status of Pakistan has been elevated due to superb use of the Chinese equipment in actual combat. In trade relations , Phase-I (2006) focused on goods and investment. Phase-II protocol signed April 2019, implemented January 2020. China eliminated tariffs on 313 tariff lines of Pakistan’s export interest, treatment on par with ASEAN, covering $8.7bn of Pakistan’s global exports and $64bn of Chinese imports. Findings show imports rose far faster than exports, widening deficit. Structural issues cited: low-value exports (copper, cotton) returning as high-value finished goods, high production costs making Pakistani goods uncompetitive in China, and non-tariff barriers. No matter what the western analysts say. BRI and CPEC bears Strategic and Economic Benefits . Launched in 2013 as flagship of Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC is a 3,000 km corridor linking Kashgar, Xinjiang to Gwadar.
The Scale of cooperation , Initial pledge $46bn in 2015, now $62bn planned between FY2015-2030 . Realized by end 2022: direct investment $25.4bn, 236,000 jobs created, 510 km expressways, 8,000 MW added . In Energy $34-35bn of total allocated to 21 power projects. 14 priority projects 10,400 MW, plus 7 actively promoted 6,645 MW. Completed to date , ~5,520-6,000 MW, doubling Pakistan’s generation capacity to 42,131 MW vs demand, but coal-heavy (>50%).in communication and transport 800 km road networks and transmission lines, Gwadar East-Bay Expressway, New Gwadar International Airport, Karakoram Highway realignment. In Industrial sector , the growth due Pakistan intern political and Law and Order. Rashki Special Economic Zone Phase-1, Gwadar Free Zone Phase-1 is completed. Other , 12 wind projects 610 MW creating 20,000 local jobs and 2bn kWh clean energy annually.
Strategic Benefits
” For China: alternative Indian Ocean route reducing Malacca dependence; secure energy corridor; market access to Middle East, Africa, Europe; demonstration of BRI success.
” For Pakistan: breaks energy bottleneck (at launch 6,000-7,000 MW deficit costing 2.6% GDP), infrastructure modernization, industrialization potential, Gwadar as regional connectivity hub. Gwadar offers shortest route for Central Asian Republics’ trade to Arabian Sea.
CPEC 2.0 (2025-2030) Both sides agreed in 2026 to promote high-quality development of upgraded CPEC 2.0, including Main Line-1 railway upgrade, Karakoram Highway Thakot-Raikot realignment, full operationalization of Gwadar Port, industrial parks for textiles and home appliances, and welcoming third parties. Phase-II focuses on five corridors aligning with Pakistan’s 5Es framework (exports, equity, empowerment, environment, energy) and BRI’s eight-point roadmap: industrialization, agriculture, mines and minerals, IT, human resource, science and technology.
Problems and Western Attitude. When CPEC agreement was signed , in my earlier article I had mentioned problems Pakistan will face , diplomatically , politically and administrative
Western media and some think tanks frame CPEC as debt-trap diplomacy, citing Sri Lanka’s Hambantota precedent coined in 2017. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2018 warned IMF bailout should not repay Chinese debt, triggering propaganda campaign . LUMS analysis concludes sceptical narratives are strategically aligned with Indian and Western It is wrong to comp Sri Lanka with .
Pakistan. Apprehensions and containment efforts . Both Pakistan and China rebutted Chinese envoy Lijian Zhao: CPEC loans $6bn of Pakistan’s $95bn international debt, average government-to-government loan rate less than 2% with grants . Chinese debt is only 26% of total external liabilities, 74% owed to Western donors; terms more favourable than non-CPEC financing. China’s total bilateral loans ~$29bn, about 22% of external debt . Pakistan owes less to China than to Western institutions including IMF, World Bank, Paris Club.
Structural Problems has been the main hurdle for faster development. Economic: trade imbalance widening, circular debt in power sector deepened despite capacity addition, Gwadar development exclusionary with limited local ownership, industrial cooperation and agriculture slow. Financial sustainability: reliance on rollovers ($2bn March 2025, $3.4bn June 2025). There are Transparency and labour concerns.
Terrorism and Security Challenges Security has become immediate operational constraint. According to NACTA, at least 20 Chinese nationals killed in attacks since 2021 Official interior ministry data notes 62 CPEC workers killed in last four years, with higher actual numbers .BLA( this reflect foreign agenda )views Chinese investments as exploitation of Baloch resources, demands CPEC closure and Chinese exit from Baluchistan. It opposes Gwadar port as exclusionary model. Islamist groups (TTP, ETIM) also target.
Chinese state-owned enterprises are described as less averse to financial losses than human casualties. Pakistan launched comprehensive military operation in Baluchistan late 2024 under Chinese pressure, plans for dedicated security firm to guard Chinese nationals, and joint anti-terror drills. May 2026 Joint Statement commits Pakistan to targeted steps to ensure safety of Chinese personnel, projects, institutions, and China to support firm fight against terrorism and establish China-Pakistan Security Partnership 3.
Future Prospects Financial Integration On 14 May 2026 Pakistan issued first Panda Bond in China’s onshore market: 3-year, yuan-denominated RMB 1.75bn ($250m) backed by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Asian Development Bank guarantees, attracting demand RMB 8.8bn ($1.26bn) with 5x oversubscription. Officials described it as symbolic milestone entering China’s domestic financial architecture, showcasing confidence in Pakistan’s economic direction. However, if this amount is used in projects, it will be fine but if it’s there just to cover financial deficit, it is a cause of concern.
CPEC future projections . Report 63 additional projects valued at ~$35bn by 2030, $1bn Chinese grant for social sector. It is planned to cooperate in Five corridors and eight BRI points: growth, innovation, inclusiveness, digital economy, AI, quantum and green technologies, hybrid agriculture, science and space, SME, banking and finance Priority sectors identified in B2B conference with 300 Pakistani and 500 Chinese firms in agriculture, mines and minerals, textiles, industry, It will be augmented with training 1,000 young Pakistani agricultural technicians trained in China, Shaanxi, Hubei, Sichuan, Hainan provinces support.
In Community with Shared Future Action Plan 2025-2029 Build even closer community with stronger political trust, closer economic ties, deeper security cooperation, more solid popular basis, model for neighbouring countries. Includes two Pakistani astronauts training in China, first foreign astronaut to enter China Space Station, cooperation in AI governance (World AI Cooperation Organization), educational and sister-city exchanges.
Not with standing analysts describe current phase as “security-first, economic consolidation”. Beijing will never let Pakistan collapse because geopolitical utility against India remains too important, but will prioritize security of personnel over expansion. Warming China-India ties amid unpredictable US administration under Donald Trump introduces variables Islamabad cannot control. Trade diversification remains critical: Pakistan must shift from low-value to high-tech, value-addition, and addressing non-tariff barriers to narrow gap that grew by $2.4bn to $19.53bn in FY2025-26. It is a high task but achievable if bring down prices of gas , elasticity and fuel . This requires major reforms in the political dispensation in the country. Otherwise , these projects are not going to succeed.
Conclusion
The 75-year trajectory demonstrates durability rooted in structural complementarity rather than ideological affinity. From border settlement and secret diplomatic facilitation to nuclear cooperation and now integrated defence-industrial co-production, the relationship has provided Pakistan strategic autonomy and China a reliable Indian Ocean partner. CPEC delivered tangible energy and transport gains but also debt and inclusivity challenges, compounded by Western containment narratives and persistent terrorism in Baluchistan.
Future success hinges on three pivots: securing Chinese personnel through credible counter-terrorism, reorienting CPEC 2.0 toward export-oriented industrialization and technology transfer rather than infrastructure alone, and institutionalizing financial integration via instruments like Panda Bonds. The May 2026 consensus to accelerate a community with a Shared Future suggests both sides intend to preserve the relationship as anchor for regional peace while adapting to a multipolar, contested South Asia.
LONG LIVE Pakistan China Friendship
Sources Open Media , Official figures of two countries.
