Chinese scholar hails Pakistan-China ties as 'resilient strategic partnership' at 75-Year milestone

BEIJING: A leading Chinese scholar has described Pakistan-China relations as a resilient and evolving strategic partnership anchored in security cooperation, economic integration and deepening people-to-people ties as both countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The assessment comes ahead of the official visit of Shehbaz Sharif to China from May 23 to 26, a trip expected to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across political, economic and strategic domains.

Liu Zongyi said the relationship between Pakistan and China had evolved over seven and a half decades into what is widely recognized as an “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership,” often described as “higher than the mountains, deeper than the seas, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel.”

According to the scholar, the partnership rests on three major pillars: strategic and security cooperation, economic collaboration and people-to-people exchanges.

Liu identified strategic and security coordination as the foundation of bilateral ties, noting that both countries had maintained close cooperation on regional security matters while sustaining long-term military collaboration aimed at safeguarding national interests and promoting regional stability.

Economic cooperation was described as the second major pillar, with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor playing a central role in strengthening bilateral engagement.

The scholar said CPEC had significantly contributed to Pakistan’s infrastructure development, regional connectivity and trade integration, while also reflecting China’s broader support for Pakistan’s long-term economic transformation and modernization efforts.

The third pillar — people-to-people exchanges — was highlighted as a key factor behind the durability and continuity of bilateral relations.

Academic collaboration, research partnerships, language initiatives and university exchange programmes were cited as important channels for deepening mutual understanding and strengthening societal links between the two nations.

Liu further observed that China and Pakistan had maintained close coordination on regional and international issues, including support for the Global South, engagement with the Islamic world and efforts aimed at promoting regional peace, stability and economic integration.

Looking ahead, the scholar emphasized the importance of increasing youth engagement and strengthening societal connectivity to ensure the continuity of the relationship across future generations.

He also identified language barriers and limited public familiarity as areas requiring greater attention to reinforce long-term cooperation and cultural understanding.

On the economic front, Liu noted that Pakistan’s industrial transformation would depend on sustained domestic reforms, institutional strengthening and policy consistency, while also stressing the importance of ensuring the security of Chinese personnel and projects operating in Pakistan.

The analysis concluded that the Pakistan-China strategic partnership continued to adapt effectively to changing global dynamics and acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts to diversify its external engagement while maintaining strategic balance in regional affairs.

Expressing optimism about the future trajectory of bilateral ties, Liu said the Pakistan-China partnership would continue to demonstrate resilience, strategic relevance and long-term value through a pragmatic and forward-looking approach to cooperation.