Strengthening, Sino-pak Strategic Partnership

Visits by President and PM were beneficial

Time-tested, all-weather, iron-brothers, mutually beneficial, strong, higher than the,highest mountains,strategic partnership and enviable,neighbourly relations between China and Pakistan,continue to grow and gaining strength with every passing,day, particularly,when the top leaders of both the countries were engaged,in high-level bilateral interaction and deliberations in Islamabad and Beijing or even at some international forums around the globe.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif had visited China in September last year and again in,April/May 2026, one after the other, interacted with top Chinese leadership and further strengthened and promoted mutually beneficial bilateral relations.

This year 2026 was quite important in ever-growing mutually beneficial relations between the two countries as this marked the 75th year of establishment of,diplomatic relations on 21 May 1951 and launching of the second phase of the great gamechanger, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, any time in 2026 after quite successful completion of the first phase in 2025.

The PM's yet another visit to China was quite productive and result-oriented and augurs,well for further augmenting, cementing and expanding strategic cooperation and partnership between the two ironclad brothers,with every passing day

 Historically speaking, it may be mentioned here that following the founding of the People' s Republic of China on 1 October 1949, Pakistan had accorded formal,diplomatic recognition to the new Chinese government in January 1950 despite its close ties with the West. Pakistan and China had established diplomatic relations,on 21 May 1951 marking Pakistan as one of the very first countries and the first Muslim-majority nation to officially recognize the People's Republic of China.

The foundation of the partnership was cemented through early trade agreements primarily involving the exchange of Pakistan's raw cotton for China's coal which helped Pakistan during its initial economic challenges. The diplomatic breakthrough had occurred at the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia. Pakistan's Prime Minister Mohammad Ali Bogra and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai held highly successful talks, forging a personal rapport and mutual understanding based on peaceful coexistence. Both nations then had found common ground in adhering to the " Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression,and peaceful coexistence ) which laid the groundwork for enduring political, economic and strategic cooperation.

A colourful function was held in Islamabad on May 21, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. Both countries were celebrating this milestone occasion of diplomatic ties,with renewed pledges by their top leaderships for strategic cooperation. This great event was participated and addressed by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National,People's Congress of China, Cal Dafeng and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong. They also joined hands to cut a big cake on this great occasion.

President Zardari termed CPEC a transformative,project, driving Pakistan's socio- economic progress while PM Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan-China friendship was time-tested and unbreakable, China has always stood by Pakistan like a solid rock during every challenge and crisis. He also praised President Xi Jinping's leadership,for lifting,800 million people,out of poverty. To mark the great occasion, The Chinese and Pakistani Presidents also exchanged messages reaffirming rock-solid friendship of both the countries.,

Following this colourful commemorative,function, PM Shehbaz Sharif paid a four day official visit to China in the last week of May 2026 at the invitation of the Chinese Government.The visit was split into two stages.He first visited Hangzhou where he interacted with a large number of Chinese investors and businessmen, at the forum of Business-to-Business (B2B) conference. Deliberations on this occasion followed by signing of a number of Memorandums of Understanding for greater Chinese investment and partnership in different sectors in Pakistan and enhancing mutual, beneficial cooperation and partnership .

From Hangzhou, the PM flew to Beijing where he held bilateral deliberations as well as delegation-level discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. During these highest level contacts, a vast range of matters were dilated upon with focus on CPEC which was all set to enter its second phase.

As per the joint statement issued at the conclusion of the visit, which focused on expanding strategic, economic and security cooperation, the top leadership of Pakistan and China agreed to accelerate work on major infrastructure, and industrial connectivity projects under the second phase of the CPEC.The visiting Pakistani PM assured his Chinese hosts of providing full support to Chinese companies for business expansion in his country. and also pledged to further cement Pak--China cooperation in diverse other sectors as well.

Both countries agreed to move faster, to build an even closer China-Pakistan Community with a shared future in the new era while describing the relationship as carrying even more strategic importance and relevance amid shifting regional and global dynamics.

The Joint Statement further stated that as regards security cooperation the two sides agreed to establish the China-Pakistan Security Partnership, expand military and counter-terrorism cooperation, and strengthen security measures for Chinese personnel and projects operating in Pakistan.

Pakistan reaffirmed support,for China 's position on Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and,South China while Beijing reiterated support for Pakistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity and development priorities.

Both China and Pakistan also reiterated support for resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute peacefully in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Both China and Pakistan,also welcomed third party participation in CPEC projects under the model agreed upon by China and Pakistan. The joint statement further stated that the two sides would advance the realignment of the Karakoram Highway in a phased and orderly manner, expand the role of Gwadar Port,as a regional connectivity hub and strengthen land connectivity through the Khunjerab,Pass. The two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in industrial parks, mining, oil and gas exploration, digital economy, artificial intelligence, finance, information technology and energy. Both the countries also committed to strengthening,industrial,supply chains and expanding,cooperation in,scientific and technological innovation. 

The PM's yet another visit to China was quite productive and result-oriented and augurs,well for further augmenting, cementing and expanding strategic cooperation and partnership between the two ironclad brothers,with every passing day.