Pakistan China Relations:

65 years of friendship to strategic

partnership
Introduction
Pakistan and China have celebrated 2019 as an year of friendship to
mark 68 years of diplomatic relations which are constantly moving on
an ascending trajectory and gaining strength with the passage of time.

Pakistan and China have prepared a number of events to celebrate the

anniversary of their friendship, which is unique in many ways in the
recent history of state-to-state and people-to-people relations.
• The friendly relationship has been described over the years by the
leaderships of the two countries as all-weather, time-tested, deeper
than the oceans and higher than Himalayas, sweeter than honey, and
lately, as strategic and stronger than steel. These expressions are not
simple cliches but truly reflect the strength, depth and maturity of the
relationship constructed over the last 68 years.

• Evolution of this extraordinary relationship owes its genesis to the

vision of the leadership of the two countries, who based the
relationship on the principles of peaceful co-existence, commonality
of interests, and shared perceptions on regional and global
developments.
History of Pak-China Relations
• On May 21, 1951, China and Pakistan established formal diplomatic
relations. Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize China.
This opened a new chapter of history of bilateral friendly cooperation.
To develop China-Pakistan strategic partnership has won sincere
support from both leaders and peoples.
• As friendly neighbors, China and Pakistan maintain close
communication and coordination on international and regional issues
of common concerns. China has always firmly supported Pakistan’s
development and implementation of anti-terrorism security strategy
based on its national conditions.
• Pakistan firmly supports China on the issues of Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang
and other issues concerning China’s core interests. China also firmly
supports Pakistan in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and
territorial integrity.

• Leaders of two nations have frequently exchanged visits in recent

years. In last five years, Premiers of Pakistan and China have visited
each other and reached important consensus on bilateral relations
and other major issues.
ECONOMIC COOPERATION:
China has become Pakistan’s second largest trading partner, while
Pakistan becomes China’s largest investment destination in South Asia
with total bilateral trade reached at 18 billion US dollars. Positive
developments were registered in previous years as trade volume
between the two sides grew from $5.7bn to $100.11bn during a 15-
year period from 2000 to 2015 while total value of contracts signed
between the two in this period went from $1.8bn to $150.8bn. The
construction of 46 billion US dollars China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) is progressing well and covers all areas including energy, finance,
information and communications
DEFENCE COOPERATION:
In the field of defence, China has extended invaluable cooperation that
extends to all three services. It has assisted Pakistan in setting up
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Heavy Industries Taxila, several
production lines in the Pakistan Ordnance Factories, and maritime
projects for the navy and missile factories. The Pakistan Aeronautical
Complex at Kamra, Heavy Forge and Foundry, Heavy Mechanical
Complex, Heavy Re-build Factory at Taxila and Pakistan Steel Mill at
Karachi are more such examples. The production of JF-17 Thunder
fighter aircraft at Aeronautical Complex Kamra stands out as a
monumental cooperation between the two countries.
NUCLEAR COOPERATION:

China has been a strong vocal and avid supporter of Pakistan’s nuclear
power generation for peaceful purposes. CHASNUPP-I is the
commercial nuclear power plant in Punjab set up with Chinese
assistance by its CNNC (China National Nuclear Corporation) under
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Construction of
CHASNUPP-II started in December 2005.
CULTURAL RELATIONS:
Both states have given importance to cultural relations to increase
people-to-people cooperation through exchange of cultural troupes.
China appreciates Pakistan’s effort to expand Chinese language and
Confucius Institutes in Pakistan.
Thank you