Manzar Naqvi
KARACHI: Consul General of China in Karachi Yang Yundong has said that China and Pakistan are fully capable of navigating global uncertainties through the certainty of their rock-solid friendship and will continue to move forward together to build a closer community with a shared future in the new era.
Speaking at a seminar commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, organized by Chinese Consulate Karachi, he said the friendship between the two countries had stood the test of changing international conditions and had become a shining example of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems, histories and cultures.
Yundong said the 75th anniversary was being celebrated through a series of activities in both countries with broad and active participation, which fully demonstrated that China-Pakistan friendship was deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.
Yang said the seminar provided an important opportunity to exchange views on the history, present and future of bilateral relations and to carry forward the unbreakable friendship between the two nations with renewed commitment.
Recalling the historic journey of bilateral ties, he said the older generation of leaders of China and Pakistan had shown great foresight by formally establishing diplomatic relations 75 years ago. He noted that in 1955, during the Bandung Conference, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai held friendly talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Ali, which played an important role in enhancing understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
He said the exchange of visits between Premier Zhou Enlai and Prime Minister Muhammad Ali in 1956 opened a new era of special friendly relations between China and Pakistan. He added that during the 1960s and 1970s, bilateral relations developed rapidly through frequent high-level exchanges and close cooperation.
The Consul General highlighted the 1963 Boundary Agreement between China and Pakistan as an important milestone in bilateral relations. He also recalled Pakistan’s consistent support for the restoration of China’s lawful rights in the United Nations from 1965 to 1971, saying that China restored its lawful seat in the UN in 1971 with the strong and continuous support of friendly countries such as Pakistan.
Yang Yundong said China had always treated Pakistan with complete sincerity by providing political, economic and defence support and helping Pakistan overcome various challenges. He also referred to Chairman Mao Zedong’s meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on May 27, 1976, describing it as Chairman Mao’s last meeting with a foreign guest.
He said the construction of the Karakoram Highway by Chinese and Pakistani builders in difficult mountainous terrain remained a miracle in the history of human construction and a witness to the depth of China-Pakistan friendship.
Referring to recent high-level exchanges, the Consul General said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had paid successful visits to China and the leadership of both countries had reached a broad new consensus on further deepening bilateral relations. He stressed the need to implement this consensus and open a new chapter in China-Pakistan friendship.
Yang Yundong said Pakistan was the first Islamic country to recognize New China and had played a significant role in restoring China’s lawful seat in the United Nations. He said Pakistan also built a bridge of communication for the historic opening of China-US relations and had firmly adhered to the One-China principle while opposing any form of Taiwan independence.
He said China firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and also supports Pakistan’s efforts to maintain national security, stability, development and prosperity.
The Consul General said China-Pakistan ties were based on deep emotional bonds and were passed from generation to generation. He referred to the famous expression that China-Pakistan friendship is “higher than mountains, deeper than oceans and sweeter than honey” and said the Chinese people warmly refer to Pakistan as “Ba Tie,” meaning Iron Brother Pakistan.
He said cultural and people-to-people exchanges had grown in recent years and a rising number of Chinese and Pakistani youth were carrying forward the legacy of friendship by telling the stories of China-Pakistan relations in the new era.
Speaking on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said CPEC, as a flagship and pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative, had entered a new phase of high-quality development known as “version 2.0.” He said CPEC had transformed Pakistan’s infrastructure and was now supporting industrial upgrading, economic transformation and public welfare.
Yang Yundong, who said he would soon return to China after completing his tenure in Karachi, stated that he had witnessed the continuous and rapid development of China-Pakistan relations during more than three years of service in the city.
He said despite the complex security situation in the consular district, CPEC construction and practical cooperation in different fields had advanced rapidly. He added that Chinese investors were showing growing confidence and interest in investing and doing business in Pakistan, reflecting the resilience and immense potential of bilateral friendship.
He also mentioned frequent visits to China by delegations from different sectors, including lawmakers, journalists, think tank scholars, students and experts, saying these exchanges had promoted deeper understanding and mutual trust between the people of the two countries.
The Consul General further highlighted public welfare initiatives undertaken by the Chinese Consulate, including Consul General Scholarships, donation of solar streetlights and provision of medical supplies, saying these projects had enabled local communities to feel the tangible benefits of China-Pakistan cooperation.
Expressing deep gratitude to the people of Pakistan, Yang Yundong said every day spent in Pakistan had moved him because of the warmth and sincerity of the Pakistani people. He said that wherever his future takes him, he would always remain a builder of China-Pakistan friendship, a promoter of people-to-people exchanges and a keeper of the brotherhood between the two nations.
He concluded by wishing prosperity to both countries and said, “China-Pak Dosti Zindabad.”
Irfan Soomro, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Liaison Office in Karachi, in his address highlighted the remarkable fruits of 75 years of Pakistan-China partnership and said that the relationship between the two countries had grown from diplomatic cooperation into a comprehensive, time-tested and all-weather strategic partnership.
He said Pakistan and China had stood by each other through every challenge and their friendship had continued to strengthen with the passage of time. He particularly referred to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), describing it as one of the most important symbols of practical cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
Irfan Soomro said CPEC had already contributed significantly to Pakistan’s infrastructure, energy and connectivity sectors and had now entered its second phase, which would focus on industrial cooperation, agriculture, technology, livelihood projects and people-centered development. He noted that the second phase of CPEC would further deepen economic cooperation and create new opportunities for growth, investment and employment in Pakistan.
He appreciated the services rendered by Consul General of China in Karachi Yang Yundong during his tenure and said his efforts had played an important role in strengthening China-Pakistan cooperation, especially in Sindh and the southern region of Pakistan.
Irfan Soomro said Yang Yundong had actively promoted economic, cultural and people-to-people exchanges and had remained engaged with government institutions, business circles, media representatives, academic bodies and civil society. He added that the Consul General’s contribution would be remembered with respect and appreciation.
He further said that the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations was not only an occasion to celebrate the past but also an opportunity to renew the commitment to carry this historic friendship into a new era of shared development, regional connectivity and mutual prosperity.
Other speakers, including Changez Hussain, Farooq Afzal, Nadra Panjwani, Fayyaz Magoon, Muhammad Junaid, Sahebzadi Maheen Khan, Muhammad Ali and Secretary General KEC, also spoke on the occasion and discussed at length the historic depth of Pakistan-China relations, the achievements of 75 years of diplomatic partnership and the future expectations attached to this time-tested friendship.
They said Pakistan and China had always stood by each other in difficult times and their relationship had grown into an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership based on mutual trust, respect and shared development. The speakers highlighted the importance of CPEC, people-to-people contacts, cultural exchanges, media cooperation, trade, investment and regional connectivity as key areas that would further strengthen bilateral relations in the coming years.
They also appreciated the services rendered by Consul General of China in Karachi Yang Yundong during his three-year tenure, saying that he played an active and constructive role in promoting Pakistan-China friendship in Karachi and Sindh. They said his engagement with government officials, business leaders, media representatives, scholars, students and civil society helped bring the people of the two countries closer.
The speakers said Yang Yundong’s efforts for strengthening economic cooperation, cultural understanding and public welfare initiatives would be remembered with respect. They expressed the hope that the brotherly relations between Pakistan and China would continue to grow stronger and that the next phase of cooperation would bring greater prosperity, connectivity and development for both nations.
