75 years of Pakistan-China enduring relationship

The “all-weather diplomatic relations” between Pakistan and China has a long history and it all started with Pakistani Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai signing the Treaty of Friendship between China and Pakistan in what was then Peking and now Beijing, in 1956. The Chinese communists had defeated the Nationalists in the Chinese Civil War. On October 1st, 1949, Chairman Mao Tse-tung announced the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Pakistan was the first Muslim country to recognize the new Chinese government on January 4th, 1950, which was followed by establishing of diplomatic relations between the two countries on 21st May 1951.

The 1962 Sino-Indian war brought Pakistan and China even closer with each other in a joint effort to counter India and resulting in Pakistan and China signing the Sino-Pakistan Agreement a year later. The relationship grew further having convergent views on most issues of global importance and supporting each other at all international forums. Geo-political considerations drew China and Pakistan even closer at a time when Pakistan was a member of two explicitly anti-communist alliances, CENTO and SEATO. Since then, the informal alliance that initially began as mutual opposition towards India had grown into a lasting relationship that has benefited both nations on the diplomatic, economic and military fronts. Pakistan has stood by on most issues of importance to China and especially supports its position with respect to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet considering these as autonomous regions of the People’s Republic of China. In July 2019, Pakistan was one of 50 countries that backed China’s policies in Xinjiang, signing a joint letter to the UNHRC commending China’s remarkable achievements in the field of human rights. Along with diplomatic support, Pakistan served as a conduit for China to open to the West when Henry Kissinger, in July 1971, then-U.S. National Security Advisor conducted a secret 48-hour visit to Beijing, departing covertly from Islamabad. Facilitated by the Pakistani government, this backchannel mission paved the way for President Richard Nixon’s historic 1972 visit which ended decades of U.S.-China isolation. This single arrangement by Pakistan can be termed as a game changer which helped melt the ice standing in the way between China and the USA. President Nixon’s visit to China fundamentally reshaped global geopolitics, opening and paving the way for sweeping diplomatic, economic, and strategic shifts that altered the course of the Cold War. What further ensued is now history and known to all.

China has in turn provided all along, extensive economic, political and technical support to Pakistan. The massive undertaking of Karakoram Highway linking the mountainous Northern Pakistan with Western China was built with China’s help as a major trade corridor. China provided support through Pakistan to the Afghan guerillas fighting Soviet invading forces in Afghanistan. In the mid 80’s, China and Pakistan reached a comprehensive nuclear co-operation agreement which turned out to be of immense help to Pakistan in achieving its nuclear capabilities. This resulted in a 300-megawatt Chashma Nuclear Power Complex (CHASNUPP) in the Mianwali district of Punjab in 1999. Defence cooperation between the two resulted in a joint-ventured Chinese-Pakistani tank, the MBT-2000 (Al-Khalid) produced in 2001.  This initial joint venture led to successive other high technology areas in the defence sector producing sophisticated defence equipment to meet present day challenges. The success of “Marka-i-Haq” response of Pakistan to the aggression “Operation Sindoor” of India in 2025 speaks volumes.

The 2002 Gwadar deep seaport project in Baluchistan has China managing it as the primary investor. In 2012, trade between China and Pakistan hit a 12-month figure of $12 billion for the first time. The following year, Pakistan and China approved the well known China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)  to link Pakistan’s Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea to Kashgar in northwest China earmarking $18 billion for the project to include the construction of a 200 km-long tunnel as well. 2014 witnessed both countries signing 19 agreements particularly relating to CPEC with China pledging a total investment worth $42 billion. The flagship project of CEPC was seen as a prelude to what was being planned as a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by China which aimed at reviving the ancient Silk Road. It sought to connect Asia, Africa, and Europe through extensive networks of railways, ports, highways and energy pipelines. In other words, developing infrastructure overland as corridors connecting China to Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe while focusing on creating cohesive economic land corridors.

Both Pakistan and China were lucky to have committed revolutionaries with vision who used their experience & wisdom to guide their countries towards progress and prosperity. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the case of Pakistan and Mao Tse-tung in the case of China collaborating the fact that leaders are supposed to lead to bring about meaningful change and not follow the parochial mindset of the common masses. The common denominators of both leaders were the conclusive statements and authoritative communication expressing facts, ideas and opinions which won the hearts and minds of their followers enabling them to bring about the desired change. The internationally recognised RED BOOK of Chairman Mao Tse-tung contains a summary of such statements/quotations on virtually every aspect of human existence as also pertaining to governance facilitating the governed to readily accept and comply with the covenants of the government. The Red Book initially published in Chinese was later translated into more than 50 languages by the Foreign Languages Press in 1966 and delivered across the globe calling nations to unite. The then Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan, Zhang Wenjin was instructed to distribute the English version of the Red Book in Pakistan.

Ever since the establishment of the Diplomatic Relations 75 years ago, numerous high-level delegations were exchanged to further strengthen ties between the two friendly countries. Every successive government made meaningful progress in its relationship with China. It may be worth mentioning that the first airline allowed to operate in China from the free world was PIA from Pakistan. Also, starting with the visit of President Ayub Khan in 1965 to the last visit of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as Prime Minister in 1976, they were personally received by Chairman Mao with the later  meeting holding great significance as it was Chairman Mao’s last-ever public appearance and his final meeting with any foreign guest before his passing away weeks later the same year in September in Peking.

Chinese President Xi Jinping: “Throughout the 75 years of diplomatic relations, no matter how the international situation changes, the two sides have always shown each other with sincerity and shared weal and woe.” During a meeting with the Pakistani Prime Minister, President Xi famously added, “I feel as if I am going to visit the home of my own brother.”

Pakistan China Dosti Zindabad!