2026 marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. These two commemorative milestones, though seemingly parallel, together trace a long river of friendship that spans time and space. In the great journey of the Chinese people, under the leadership of the CPC, progressing from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong, China-Pakistan relations have always served as a model of good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. They represent a brilliant highlight of China’s distinctive major-country diplomacy. This relationship not only demonstrates China’s strategic resolve and diplomatic wisdom but also injects valuable stability into a world fraught with turbulence and change.
Looking back at history, the roots of China-Pakistan friendship run deep in the diplomatic practices of New China under CPC leadership. In the early years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, facing Western blockade and isolation, Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the PRC in 1950 and formally established diplomatic ties in 1951, becoming one of the earliest Muslim nations to do so. The CPC highly valued this timely gesture of goodwill. From the 1950s to the 1970s, under the personal guidance of leaders such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, China and Pakistan signed a border agreement and supported each other during major international crises. Pakistan advocated for the restoration of China’s legitimate seat in the United Nations, while China stood firmly by Pakistan when it faced external pressures. This “friendship in adversity” became a successful example of peaceful coexistence between countries with different social systems.
In the new era of reform and opening-up, the CPC deepened China-Pakistan cooperation with a strategic vision. Since the 21st century, and especially after the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with President Xi Jinping at its core has promoted the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, elevating bilateral ties to new heights. In 2015, the two countries established an “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.” The launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2013 – a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative – has not only supported Pakistan’s infrastructure development and energy needs but has also become a strategic hub connecting Central, South, and West Asia. Over 75 years, China-Pakistan relations have withstood international storms and remained rock-solid, earning the description of being “higher than the mountains, deeper than the seas, and sweeter than honey.” This enduring friendship is a vivid footnote to the CPC’s commitment to an independent foreign policy of peace and the building of a new type of international relations. It powerfully illustrates China’s role as a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, and defender of the international order.
In 2026, coinciding with the 105th anniversary of the CPC’s founding, China-Pakistan relations have reached a new peak of development. The two sides have planned a series of commemorative activities for the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, including political party forums and cultural exchange programs, to strengthen people-to-people bonds. The Action Plan for Building a Closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era (2025-2029), released in 2025, is being implemented at an accelerated pace. CPEC has entered its “2.0 upgrade” phase, with cooperation shifting from traditional infrastructure to high-quality development in industry, agriculture, mining, green energy, digital economy, and artificial intelligence. Numerous “small yet beautiful” livelihood projects have been launched to deliver tangible benefits to grassroots communities in both countries. High-level interactions, such as the visit of the Pakistani Prime Minister to China, have produced broad consensus on advancing the Gwadar Port as a regional logistics hub and ensuring the smooth operation of corridors like the Karakoram Highway. These new developments not only provide strong impetus for Pakistan’s economic recovery but also open new avenues for China’s high-level opening-up, fully showcasing the pioneering achievements of the CPC in guiding major-country diplomacy in the new era.
Throughout the 75-year history of China-Pakistan relations, their strategic significance in coordinating regional conflicts and safeguarding world peace stands out prominently. In 2026, facing complex regional situations, the two countries jointly issued calls for peace. Amid tensions in the Middle East, the foreign ministers of China and Pakistan put forward a five-point initiative, urging an immediate ceasefire, protection of civilians, and political resolution through dialogue. This open and inclusive initiative demonstrates the responsible role of both nations. During periods of heightened border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, China played a constructive mediating role through mechanisms such as the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral foreign ministers’ dialogue, encouraging restraint and the exploration of comprehensive solutions. These efforts highlight the role of China-Pakistan relations as a “stabilizer” for regional peace.
Standing at a new historical starting point, the building of the China-Pakistan community with a shared future is offering practical examples for a global community with a shared future for mankind. In an era of accelerating profound changes unseen in a century, the CPC leads China in firmly pursuing a strategy of mutually beneficial opening-up. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship is a vivid embodiment of this vision. It transcends bilateral scope by injecting certainty into peace and development in South Asia and beyond, setting a model for solidarity and cooperation among Global South countries, and contributing Oriental wisdom to addressing global challenges.
Seventy-five years of weathering storms together, and 105 years of unwavering commitment. China-Pakistan relations will continue to ride the momentum of these dual anniversaries, carrying forward the past while opening the future. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with President Xi Jinping at its core, this steadfast strategic partnership will surely write new splendid chapters for world peace and development, contributing even greater “China-Pakistan strength” to the progress of human civilization.
