Building a shared future: Celebrating 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China, Pakistan

 

Seventy-five years of sharing weal and woe, seventy-five years of friendship as strong as steel. In 2026, as China and Pakistan mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the peoples of both countries are immersed in the joy of friendship and cooperation. Since the two countries formally established diplomatic ties on May 21, 1951, this friendship, spanning the Himalayas and crossing the Arabian Sea, has remained rock-solid and ever-renewed amid changes in the international landscape. Together, we have traversed an extraordinary journey of three-quarters of a century, witnessing the construction of the Karakoram Highway and the vision of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor; we have seen prompt action in disaster relief operations time and again, and firm mutual support in international affairs. Described as a relationship “higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans, sweeter than honey, and stronger than steel”, this bilateral bond has gone beyond ordinary state-to-state interactions, setting an example of long-term friendship, stable cooperation and mutual benefit between countries with different civilizations and social systems.

75 Years of meeting challenges together: Forging an All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership

The 75th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations is undoubtedly a milestone worth remembering in the history of bilateral relations. Looking back to May 21, 1951, Pakistan, amid the international environment of the time, resolutely became one of the first countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China, and the first Islamic country to establish diplomatic relations with China. This decision was strategically visionary and demonstrated Pakistan’s firm commitment to international justice. Over the past 75 years, despite profound shifts in the international architecture, the two countries have always upheld the core principles of mutual respect and trust, standing side by side in the face of various risks and challenges. The journey has not always been smooth, yet it has forged an even stronger bond.

In the early 1960s, through a series of friendly and practical negotiations, China and Pakistan peacefully resolved the historical boundary issue. This achievement laid an extremely solid political foundation for the long-term development of bilateral relations. It not only reflected the farsightedness of the leaders of both countries, but also provided a valuable example for the international community on peacefully resolving territorial disputes through dialogue and consultation.

In January 1963, the two governments signed a trade agreement granting each other most-favored-nation treatment; in August of the same year, an air transport agreement was signed, enabling Pakistan International Airlines to launch scheduled passenger services to Beijing in April 1964; a barter trade agreement was signed in September 1963; a cultural agreement in March 1965; a maritime transport agreement in October 1966, and so on. The signing of these agreements demonstrated the rapid growth of bilateral relations firmly grounded in shared aspirations, political mutual trust and common interests.

In the 1970s, amid profound adjustments in the international and regional landscape, the friendly relations between China and Pakistan remained steady and enduring. At the crucial moment of restoring China’s lawful seat in the United Nations in 1971, Pakistan showed a clear stance and firm support. Since then, high-level exchanges between the two countries have become closer, and strategic dialogue has deepened continuously. Even in a complex and volatile international environment, the two sides have maintained a high degree of mutual understanding and firm support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns. Such mutual support at critical junctures is perhaps the most prominent feature of China-Pakistan relations. As leaders of both countries have put it, this friendship is “higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans, sweeter than honey, and stronger than steel”，which is not merely a diplomatic expression, but a reflection of profound mutual trust built through years of interaction.

From the 1990s onward, with the deepening of world multipolarity, the substantive content of the comprehensive partnership between China and Pakistan has continued to expand. The two sides have established a multi-tiered, wide-ranging framework for dialogue and cooperation, including regular diplomatic consultations and strategic dialogues. On key issues such as counter-terrorism and regional stability, communication and coordination have remained consistent and close. Despite evolving international dynamics and different stages of adjustment in each country’s development path, bilateral relations have not only remained unshaken but shown greater resilience. Fundamentally, this relationship is not based on transient interest-for-interest exchanges, but rooted in shared or similar commitments to peace, development, fairness and justice — a sincere and precious partnership tempered by time and trials.

On April 20, 2015, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Pakistan at the invitation of the Pakistani side. The two countries issued the Joint Statement between the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the Establishment of an All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, agreeing to upgrade the relationship to an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. These words carry great weight. They are not only a noble definition of past friendship, but also a solemn commitment to the future. “All-weather” means unwavering and consistent through all conditions; “Strategic Cooperative” signifies that mutual trust and collaboration have penetrated into the long-term planning and fundamental interests of national development. This definition precisely captures the essence of China-Pakistan friendship: unchanging by transient events, unshaken by government changes, a model of state-to-state relations that stands any test. On September 2, 2025, when meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, who was in China to attend the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit and activities marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, President Xi Jinping pointed out:“China and Pakistan are friends in adversity, brothers in bond, and partners in faith and morality. Our ironclad friendship has grown stronger over time, forged through severe tests of history.”

The friendly and cooperative relations between China and Pakistan transcend ordinary state-to-state exchanges. They were crystallized in the joint struggle to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and elevated in the joint response to natural disasters and risks. Pakistan has always given China firm support on issues concerning China’s core interests, and the Chinese people will always remember this timely assistance and sense of responsibility. In return, China has unswervingly supported Pakistan’s efforts to safeguard its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such unhesitating mutual support at critical moments is the most vivid illustration of this “iron-clad” friendship.

Standing at the historical juncture of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, this long-tested partnership has become increasingly valuable in an uncertain world. It has delivered tangible benefits to the peoples of China and Pakistan, and set an example for the international community of good-neighborliness and win-win cooperation.

Unshakable Political Mutual Trust: Steering Steady, Long-Term Growth of Bilateral Ties

High-level exchanges and strategic guidance between China and Pakistan are the “fixed star” ensuring the steady growth of bilateral relations. Over 75 years, leaders of the two countries have maintained frequent exchanges like close relatives, steering the course of bilateral relations. From foundational visits in the early days of diplomatic ties to frequent high-level meetings in the new century, every handshake and dialogue has injected new contemporary connotations into bilateral friendship and elevated political mutual trust to new heights. This top-level direct communication ensures that the two countries accurately understand each other’s core concerns and strategic intentions amid complex international dynamics, and make decisions most conducive to the long-term development of bilateral relations.

Strategic guidance of high level China-Pakistan interactions is not only evident in face-to-face exchanges but is also deepened and strengthened through a series of institutionalized arrangements. China and Pakistan have established dialogue and cooperation mechanisms covering diplomacy, economy and trade, defense, security and other fields, functioning like precise gears to ensure the giant ship of cooperation operates efficiently and steadily. From regular strategic dialogues to practical consultations of specialized committees, these mechanisms form the institutional backbone of bilateral relations, ensuring that cooperation remains on the set track without fluctuation due to transient events. In particular, the annual meeting mechanism between the two heads of state has become the most important platform for blueprinting future cooperation and coordinating major positions in a timely manner.

The vitality of mechanisms lies in implementation. Consensus reached at each high-level meeting is quickly translated into concrete action plans by various departments. From the grand vision in joint statements to specific projects in memorandums of understanding and on-the-ground outcomes, an effective closed loop has been formed between top-level design and implementation. This ensures that strategic mutual trust is not confined to political declarations, but rooted in practical win-win cooperation, allowing the two peoples to truly feel the tangible benefits of high-level exchanges. This model of interaction, guided by head-of-state diplomacy, underpinned by institutional development, and focused on practical cooperation, is a distinctive hallmark of the high maturity and stability of China-Pakistan political relations.

A crucial measure of the depth and reliability of state-to-state relations is unreserved and firm support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns. Over 75 years, China and Pakistan have set an exemplary standard through concrete actions. This support is not empty rhetoric, but deep political understanding and resolute deeds.

For China, the Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair, bearing on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and constitutes the core of China’s core interests. On this fundamental issue, successive Pakistani governments have upheld a just stance, consistently and unequivocally adhered to the one-China policy, and clearly recognized that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Pakistan has repeatedly reaffirmed this position on bilateral occasions and spoken out actively on multilateral international platforms, opposing all forms of separatist attempts for “Taiwan independence” and external interference. Similarly, on issues concerning China’s sovereignty and legitimate interests related to Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong, Pakistan has always understood and supported the Chinese government’s just measures to safeguard national security, social stability and ethnic unity, and opposed any country’s interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. Such unwavering support on major principles has deeply impressed the Chinese people with the true meaning of an “iron-clad” friend.

As a Chinese saying goes, “You throw a peach to me, I give you a white jade for friendship.” The Chinese people value friendship and reciprocity, and have always firmly supported Pakistan’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. China understands and respects Pakistan’s legitimate position on the Kashmir issue and advocates a proper and peaceful settlement in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, relevant Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. When Pakistan faces threats from terrorism and extremist forces, China is among the first to extend a helping hand and provide security cooperation and support. This kind of backing and support during moments of greatest need has elevated the political trust between the two countries beyond standard strategic coordination, forging a profound sense of shared future and deep camaraderie. Such mutual support on core interests constitutes the most solid and unshakable foundation of the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

Close coordination between China and Pakistan on the international stage is an important pillar of their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. Facing increasingly complex global challenges, the two countries have maintained close strategic communication and coordination within the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other multilateral frameworks. On major issues concerning global peace and security, as well as directional discussions on the international development agenda, China and Pakistan always share extensive common ground and uphold consistent positions. Such coordination is not merely identical voting, but based on shared commitment to the basic norms of international relations and deep concern for the common interests of developing countries.

China and Pakistan have conducted effective cooperation on global governance issues including counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, climate change and public health. Both maintain that international affairs should be decided through consultation by all countries, and oppose all forms of unilateralism and hegemonism. In advancing the global development agenda, especially the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the two sides support each other and jointly call on the international community to increase support for developing countries, so as to build a more just and rational global economic governance system.

At the regional level, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization provides an important platform for deepening security and development cooperation between China and Pakistan. As member states, the two countries work hand in hand to maintain regional peace and stability, combat the “three forces” of terrorism, separatism and extremism
, promote regional connectivity and economic integration, understand each other’s legitimate concerns in regional affairs, and maintain close consultations on regional hotspot issues such as those in Afghanistan, jointly contributing wisdom and strength to the long-term stability of South Asia and Central Asia. Such tacit coordination in multilateral fora has effectively amplified the voice of the two countries as responsible major developing nations, upheld international fairness and justice, and fostered a more favorable external environment for their respective national development.

Mutual assistance and solidarity represent the most profound character of China-Pakistan relations and the core feature of their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, running through the entire history of diplomatic ties. The Chinese people will never forget that at the beginning of reform and opening up, Pakistan provided China with an air corridor to the outside world. When the 8.0-magnitude Wenchuan earthquake struck Sichuan, China, on May 12, 2008, two Pakistani Air Force C-130 transport aircraft delivered disaster relief materials worth about 1 million U.S. dollars to the quake-hit area on May 16. Later, learning of the urgent need for tents, Pakistan urgently sent all 22,260 tents from its strategic reserves to the disaster area. After the Yushu earthquake in Qinghai in 2010, the Pakistani government urgently dispatched two special planes to deliver urgently needed supplies including 300 tents and 2,000 blankets to the Yushu disaster area in batches.

Likewise, whenever Pakistan suffers major natural disasters, China is always among the first to offer assistance, embodying the responsibility of an “iron-clad brother” through concrete actions. During the catastrophic floods in Pakistan in 2010, the Chinese government provided humanitarian material assistance worth 50 million RMB to Pakistan, and then granted an additional 200 million U.S. dollars in aid, launching all-around land and air relief operations, sending the largest medical rescue team in China’s foreign assistance history, and dispatching large-scale motorcades and helicopters for rescue missions, setting a precedent in China’s foreign aid history. When severe floods hit Pakistan again in September 2022, the Chinese government immediately decided to provide 100 million RMB of emergency relief supplies to Pakistan. As the disaster worsened, China decided to provide an additional 300 million RMB in material assistance. On September 25, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries hosted a donation event titled “Chinese People for Pakistani Brothers and Sisters” for Pakistan’s flood relief, raising funds and materials worth a total of 125 million RMB. On September 28, China sent the first batch of 3,000 tents and 9,000 blankets to the Pakistani people via two Y-20 transport aircraft, with follow-up materials delivered successively by air and sea. In 2025, when floods hit Pakistan again, China immediately extended a helping hand and provided 2 million U.S. dollars in emergency assistance. To further support Pakistan’s relief and post-disaster reconstruction, the Chinese government decided to provide an additional 100 million RMB in emergency flood relief supplies.

Examples of mutual assistance and support between China and Pakistan are numerous. During the evacuation of Chinese nationals from Yemen in 2015, the Chinese Navy first helped 176 Pakistani citizens evacuate safely. At that time, eight Chinese students were stranded at the Port of Mukalla and could not reach Chinese naval vessels. The commander of the Pakistani naval vessel conducting rescue operations there ordered: the ship will not leave port until the Chinese students are aboard. These resolute words once again proved that China-Pakistan friendship is “as high as the mountains and as deep as the oceans”.

This tradition of mutual assistance runs through interactions from the state level to ordinary people. It is not only a cornerstone of diplomatic relations, but also integrated into the daily lives of the two peoples, reflecting the sincere sentiment of being “higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans, sweeter than honey, and stronger than steel”. Looking ahead, building an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era will continue this profound tradition and bring common benefits to the two peoples.

Fruitful Practical Cooperation: Prosperity Through Extensive Consultation, Joint Contribution and Shared Benefits

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a pioneering pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative. Guided by the leaders of both countries and strongly promoted by leading departments including China’s National Development and Reform Commission and Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, and guided by the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, CPEC construction has yielded fruitful results, transformed Pakistan’s national development landscape, improved people’s well-being, and promoted integrated development between China and Pakistan.

The Corridor has addressed bottlenecks that long constrained Pakistan’s economic and social development. It has brought a total of 25.4 billion U.S. dollars in direct investment to Pakistan, created 236,000 jobs, helped add 510 kilometers of expressways, 8,000 megawatts of electricity and 886 kilometers of national core transmission power lines to Pakistan. All-round China-Pakistan cooperation has continued to expand and deepen, significantly enhancing the capacity and resilience of Pakistan’s economy.

Notably, from the outset of CPEC construction, the two sides identified transportation and energy infrastructure as breakthrough areas to ease bottlenecks constraining Pakistan’s economic growth and lay a solid foundation for its future growth. Energy projects were the centerpiece of the first phase, as energy and power supply was the most pressing need for Pakistan’s economic development. Take the 22 priority projects in the first phase of the corridor construction as an example, among which 11 are energy projects. Thanks to joint efforts, Pakistan’s power generation capacity has been greatly improved, and the problem of insufficient power supply has been basically resolved. The energy sector, the largest area of Corridor investment, has provided Pakistan with clean, stable and low-cost electricity, making an extraordinary and irreplaceable contribution to easing power shortages, reducing electricity costs, serving economic and social development and boosting local employment. Stable energy supply has strongly promoted high-quality development of the Corridor in the new stage, laid a sound foundation for Pakistan’s economic and social development, and provided key support for its industrialization and modernization. Transportation infrastructure was the second key area in the first phase. Specifically, four major transportation infrastructure projects financed by preferential loans from the Chinese government are: the Karakoram Highway Phase II Upgrade Project (Havelian–Thakot), the Sukkur–Multan Section of the Karachi–Lahore Motorway, the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project, and the China-Pakistan Cross-Border Optical Cable Project. All four projects have progressed rapidly and been successfully completed.

The construction and operation of Gwadar Port is one of the most strategically significant highlights of CPEC and China-Pakistan cooperation as a whole. This once small fishing village is gradually developing into an important regional logistics hub and industrial base. The construction of the port free zone is progressing steadily, attracting investment from Pakistan and abroad. With improved handling capacity and supporting facilities, Gwadar Port has provided Pakistan with a new gateway to the Arabian Sea, greatly enhanced its international trade status and opened new growth areas for the economic development of Balochistan Province and Pakistan as a whole through the “port + industrial park + city” model.

At present, CPEC has entered a new stage of high-quality development. While advancing major strategic infrastructure projects, the focus is shifting to industrial cooperation, with new priority areas including social livelihood, agriculture, science and technology, information technology and renewable energy. In infrastructure, the upgrade of the ML-1 Railway Line is of strategic significance to Pakistan’s economic and social development; the two sides are actively discussing phased implementation and financing models. The realignment of the Karakoram Highway (Raikot–Thakot) is crucial to keeping the only land corridor between China and Pakistan open, and steady progress is being made. In industry, industrial cooperation is the top priority of high-quality CPEC development. China and Pakistan signed the Action Plan for the China-Pakistan Industrial Cooperation Framework Agreement to strengthen industrial cooperation in various fields. China supports Pakistan’s industrialization and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan’s special economic zones, and welcomes third parties to actively participate in priority CPEC projects in industry, agriculture, information technology, science and technology, mining and other fields. On Gwadar Port, as an important node of regional connectivity, supporting facilities will be accelerated to fully unlock its potential as a coastal city and especially a transit freight hub with shipbuilding capacity. In agriculture, practical modern agricultural cooperation will be carried out in seed technology, crop cultivation, drip irrigation, animal and plant disease prevention and control, agricultural mechanization, production capacity cooperation and agricultural technology exchanges. In addition, China and Pakistan have also expanded cooperation in cross-border e-commerce, deepened cooperation in the mining sector, and promoted cooperation in emerging fields such as information technology, new energy, and artificial intelligence. The upgraded version of CPEC will expand cooperation focus from energy and infrastructure to industrial parks, agriculture, mining, digital economy, artificial intelligence and other emerging fields. The two sides are actively promoting the construction of industrial parks and special economic zones under the CPEC framework to attract investment, facilitate technology transfer, create large numbers of jobs, help Pakistan enhance its “blood-making” capacity, and achieve the sustainable transformation from “blood transfusion” to “blood-making”.

In the future, building on the existing achievements in CPEC construction, both sides will work together to translate the eight major steps for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation into substantive and sustained progress, and jointly build the CPEC into a corridor of growth, livelihood, innovation, green development and openness. This will be strategically aligned with Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan ” program centered on the “5Es” framework (Exports; E-Pakistan; Environment; Energy; Equity and Empowerment) proposed in 2023, to better benefit the two countries and peoples, and jointly build CPEC into a high-quality demonstration project for the "Belt and Road Initiative" construction.

Overall, the driving role of CPEC is multi-layered and all-round. For Pakistan, it is not only a timely assistance in addressing energy and transportation bottlenecks and improving the development environment, but also a long-term strategy to optimize the economic structure and strengthen endogenous growth momentum. For regional cooperation, CPEC has promoted connectivity between South Asia, Central Asia and western China, laying a solid foundation for regional economic integration and common prosperity. For China-Pakistan strategic alignment, the Corridor closely connects China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Pakistan’s Vision 2025, fully reflecting the high compatibility of their development strategies and deep integration of development interests.

China-Pakistan economic, trade and financial cooperation is moving steadily toward a more balanced, diversified and in-depth direction. While bilateral trade volume continues to grow, the trade structure is constantly optimized. In the early years, trade was mostly focused on traditional raw materials and primary products; today, the share of high-value-added, high-tech goods is gradually rising. More Chinese mechanical and electrical products and high-tech equipment are entering the Pakistani market, supporting Pakistan’s industrial upgrading; meanwhile, high-quality Pakistani agricultural products, textiles, leather goods and other specialty products are increasingly popular among Chinese consumers. This structural optimization not only reflects the complementarity of the two economies at different development stages, but also marks that economic integration is moving from quantitative accumulation to qualitative improvement.

In investment, the scope and depth of cooperation are equally remarkable. In addition to large-scale infrastructure and energy projects under the CPEC framework, direct investment and cooperation between enterprises of the two countries are increasingly active. Chinese enterprises are actively participating in Pakistan’s manufacturing, agriculture, information technology, financial services and other sectors, bringing not only capital and technology but also focusing on localized operations, creating a large number of local jobs and training technical and managerial personnel. At the same time, China welcomes Pakistani enterprises to invest in China and share the opportunities of China’s large market. This two-way investment boom is a vote of confidence from market forces in the prospects of bilateral cooperation, strengthening economic ties and integrating interests more closely.

Financial cooperation, as the “lifeblood” of economic and trade exchanges, provides solid support for bilateral relations. The currency swap agreements signed and renewed by the central banks of China and Pakistan facilitate the use of local currencies in bilateral trade and investment, helping reduce exchange rate risks and transaction costs and enhancing the stability of the financial system. Cooperation between financial institutions of the two sides is also strengthening, making cross-border financial services more convenient. Looking ahead, the two countries have broad cooperation space in emerging fields such as fintech, green finance and inclusive finance. Jointly exploring ways to better leverage financial instruments in supporting the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting sustainable project financing, and facilitating digital payment connectivity will be a key focus for the next phase of China-Pakistan cooperation. These efforts will further unclog the “capillaries” of economic cooperation, enabling the benefits of cooperation to reach the two peoples more widely and equitably.

The ultimate measure of successful international cooperation is whether it delivers tangible benefits to ordinary people. In the grand picture of China-Pakistan cooperation, projects focusing on people’s livelihood, such as agriculture, medical care, education and poverty alleviation, are like warm and bright brushstrokes, depicting the most touching and brilliant chapters of friendship between the two peoples. Development is for the people, by the people, and its fruits are shared by the people. Therefore, China-Pakistan cooperation has always been people-centered, committed to translating development dividends into visible and tangible gains and happiness for the people.

In agriculture, the two countries share technologies and experience to jointly safeguard food security. China’s hybrid rice technology, water-saving irrigation facilities and modern agricultural management models have taken root in Pakistan’s test fields, helping local farmers increase crop yields, disaster resilience and incomes. When Pakistan was threatened by natural disasters such as locust plagues, the Chinese expert teams, carrying technology and supplies, rushed to aid immediately and fought side by side with Pakistani counterparts in the fields. Such "teaching one to fish" approach to cooperation not only ensures food security but also ignites hope for rural development. In medical and health care, cooperation is equally fruitful. From building hospitals and donating medical equipment to sending long-term medical teams and carrying out short-term free clinics such as the “Brightness Journey”, Chinese medical workers have traveled thousands of miles to bring health and light to the Pakistani people. Especially during the difficult fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan carried out the largest medical assistance and cooperation since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, providing key support for Pakistan to build an immune barrier，which is a best illustration of “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.

Education and poverty alleviation are fundamental ways to stop the intergenerational transmission of poverty and create a better future. China supports Pakistan in developing vocational education and cooperates to set up vocational training centers, helping local youth master practical skills and better participate in social development. A growing number of Pakistani students have received scholarships to study in China, acting not only as seekers of knowledge but also as messengers of China-Pakistan friendship in the future. In poverty alleviation, a large number of jobs created through CPEC projects is itself one of the most effective poverty reduction measures. Moreover, cooperation on smaller livelihood projects, such as community development and safe drinking water, may not be as eye-catching as large-scale projects, but they resemble trickling streams that directly improve the living conditions of numerous ordinary families. In disaster prevention and mitigation, the two countries have established an emergency management cooperation mechanism, sharing early warning information and rescue experience to jointly enhance capacity against natural disasters and protect the lives and property of the two peoples.

These livelihood and social development cooperation projects may not have grand narratives, but they are closest to people’s daily lives. They have brought richer harvests to Pakistani farmers, timely treatment to patients, opportunities to change destinies to young people, and safer and more livable communities. This people-centered cooperation orientation has elevated China-Pakistan friendship beyond government-to-government ties, taking deep root among the people. It makes the “iron brother” bond exist not only in grand strategic documents, but also in the hearts of ordinary people, forming the deepest social foundation and emotional bond for the enduring strength of bilateral relations.

Heart-to-Heart People-to-People Exchanges: Consolidating Public Support for Everlasting Friendship

Educational and technological cooperation is fertile ground for nurturing the future of China-Pakistan relations and key to consolidating public support for everlasting friendship. In recent years, exchanges and cooperation in these two fields have become increasingly institutionalized and systematic, benefiting tens of thousands of students and researchers, and injecting a steady stream of innovative vitality and talent support into bilateral relations.

Student exchanges are the most dynamic part of this cooperation. By 2025, the number of Pakistani students studying in China reached 28,023. As China’s all-weather strategic cooperative partner, Pakistan has seen the number of students in China surge from more than 10,000 in 2014 to 28,000 in 2025, an increase of 180%. This has been driven by government-led education cooperation programs. After the implementation of the Education Action Plan for the Belt and Road Initiative in 2016, China and Pakistan launched an Education Cooperation Action Plan, under which China provides 2,000 government scholarships to Pakistan annually, accounting for 21.4% of total Pakistani students in China. Pakistan has become an important source country of international students for China. Every year, a large number of outstanding Pakistani youth, driven by a thirst for knowledge and friendship toward China, pursue further studies in universities across China. Their fields of study cover a wide range of areas, including engineering, information technology, medicine, economics, and language and culture. These young people are not only recipients of knowledge, but also firsthand experiencers and future disseminators of China-Pakistan friendship. When they return home after graduation, they become natural bridges connecting the two societies and promoting mutual understanding. Meanwhile, the two countries actively encourage Chinese students to study and exchange in Pakistan to gain in-depth understanding of the history, culture and contemporary development of this friendly neighbor. This two-way youth exchange is reserving the most valuable human resources for the long-term development of bilateral relations.

Cooperation in joint scientific research and vocational and technical training directly serves the needs of innovation-driven and industrial development of both countries. Governments encourage universities, research institutions and enterprises to establish partnerships and conduct joint research and technological breakthroughs in areas of common concern such as climate change, agricultural technology, information technology and new energy. These cooperation efforts have yielded fruitful scientific research results and promoted knowledge sharing and technology transfer. In vocational and technical education, jointly established training centers and programs are closely tailored to Pakistan’s industrial upgrading needs, training a large number of urgently needed skilled workers and engineers. This “teaching one to fish” model has significantly enhanced the employability of Pakistani youth and provided localized talent support for the sustainable operation of CPEC projects.

Confucius Institutes and Classrooms in many parts of Pakistan are important platforms for language and cultural exchanges and people-to-people bonds. They are not only windows for Pakistani people to learn Chinese and understand Chinese culture, but also bridges for friendly people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Through colorful cultural activities, academic lectures and interactive experiences, more and more Pakistani friends have experienced the charm of Chinese culture at close range and deepened their understanding of China’s development path. Such in-depth exchanges based on language and culture have effectively removed barriers and misunderstandings, enabling the “iron brother” bond to take root and thrive among the people.

Cultural exchanges and media cooperation nourish the hearts of the Chinese and Pakistani peoples like gentle rain. Art troupes of the two countries visit each other frequently. Chinese acrobatics, songs and dances, and operas are staged in Pakistani theaters and communities, while Pakistani music, dance and handicrafts are presented at Chinese art festivals and exhibitions. These vibrant art forms transcend language barriers, intuitively showing the unique charm and profound heritage of each other’s cultures, and enhancing closeness among people through the enjoyment of beauty.

In cultural heritage protection, cooperation between the two countries has also yielded fruitful results. Experts from both sides have jointly participated in the investigation, research and restoration of historical sites, sharing technologies and experience in heritage protection and utilization. Such cherishing and protection of common human cultural heritage is not only respect for history, but also commitment to the future, demonstrating the responsibility of China and Pakistan as ancient civilizations to jointly promote the inheritance and innovation of civilizations. As shapers of public opinion, media cooperation is crucial to fostering an objective and friendly public opinion environment. Mainstream media of the two countries have established stable exchange mechanisms, striving to present a comprehensive, true and three-dimensional image of the friendly neighbor to their own audiences through joint interviews, co-productions, program exchanges and personnel visits. Such fact-based reporting and communication have effectively offset prejudice and misunderstanding, building a positive and healthy public opinion foundation for the development of bilateral relations.

Marching Hand in Hand Toward the Future: Writing a New Chapter in the China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future

Standing at a new historical starting point of the 75th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations, friendship and cooperation between the two countries have reached an unprecedented height. Reviewing the past, China and Pakistan have shared weal and woe and forged an unbreakable all-weather friendship; looking ahead, the profound evolution of the global landscape and the development blueprints of both countries require the two sides to join hands with greater wisdom and courage to draw a new blueprint for the China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

To build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future requires the two countries to continue taking political mutual trust as the fundamental guarantee. We firmly believe that no matter how the international landscape changes, firm mutual support between China and Pakistan on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns will always be the “fixed star” for the steady growth of bilateral relations. We will continue to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication to ensure that bilateral relations always move in the right direction. On core issues concerning sovereignty, security and development, we will continue to stand together without reservation, jointly resist external risks and challenges, and safeguard a just development environment and international space for both countries.

This requires us to advance practical cooperation to higher quality, wider areas and deeper levels. As a flagship project of high-quality Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC has entered a new stage of quality improvement and upgrading. We will not only consolidate achievements in traditional fields such as energy and transportation, but also vigorously expand cooperation in emerging frontier fields including digital economy, green development, artificial intelligence and biotechnology. We will promote the transformation of industrial cooperation from infrastructure construction to in-depth integration of industrial and supply chains, helping Pakistan further enhance its industrialization level and economic endogenous dynamics. Meanwhile, we will ensure that the fruits of cooperation benefit the two peoples more equitably, launching more “small and smart” projects in agriculture, medical care, education, poverty alleviation and other livelihood areas to effectively improve people’s well-being and consolidate the social foundation of friendship.

Facing global challenges such as climate change, public health crises and economic recovery, China and Pakistan, as responsible major developing countries, should strengthen coordination and cooperation on multilateral stages. We will jointly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, practice true multilateralism, and contribute the “China-Pakistan approach” to improving global governance and promoting common development. Through close cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other multilateral frameworks, we will jointly maintain regional peace and stability, creating a safer and more favorable environment for the development of the two countries and the region.

We firmly believe that China-Pakistan friendship, having forged for seventy-five years, possesses a profound foundation and strong vitality, which is sufficient to enable the two countries to jointly overcome all tests and challenges on their path forward. As long as we always uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and unite as one, we will surely elevate the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership to a new level, jointly create a better future for the two peoples, and make new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The 75th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations is both a milestone and a new starting point. Standing at the crossroads of history, we firmly believe that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries and through the joint efforts of the two peoples, the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership will embrace an even broader and brighter future. Let us continue to stand side by side, carry forward the brotherly friendship that is “higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey, and stronger than steel”, hold high the banner of forging
an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, and create a better life not only for the Chinese and Pakistani peoples, but also inject more stability, certainty and positive energy into this challenging world.

Long live China-Pakistan friendship!

The author is Founding Director of Center for Pakistan studies, Peking University.