China and Pakistan Reaffirm Deeping Bilateral Ties

Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari walk past the honor guards during the welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 5 February 2025.

China and Pakistan on Monday pledged to further deepen bilateral relations and expand cooperation, reaffirming what both sides described as their historically “ironclad” friendship.

Pakistan remains one of China’s closest partners, consistently offering diplomatic support to Beijing on a range of sensitive international issues, including Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. In return, China has invested billions of dollars in Pakistan through the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.

However, repeated Islamist militant attacks targeting Chinese nationals working on CPEC and other projects in Pakistan have emerged as a significant source of tension in recent years. Security concerns surrounding Chinese personnel and investments have increasingly shaped bilateral discussions.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, the two countries said they would work towards developing an upgraded version of CPEC, with a renewed focus on cooperation in industry, agriculture and mining. They also agreed to enhance collaboration in the financial and banking sectors. China praised Pakistan’s “comprehensive measures” to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects.

Both sides also called for more “visible and verifiable actions” to dismantle and eliminate terrorist organisations operating in Afghanistan, which shares borders with both countries. 

Pakistan is among a select group of countries designated by China as an “all-weather strategic partner”, a relationship that spans several decades. Historically, Islamabad has played a key role in facilitating China’s engagement with the outside world. Former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai once credited Pakistan with helping to normalise relations between Beijing and Washington in the 1970s by serving as a diplomatic intermediary.

On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, in Beijing, where both sides reaffirmed their “ironclad friendship and strategic mutual trust”. “China and Pakistan will further promote their ironclad ties, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and continue to strengthen their strategic coordination to break new ground,” the joint statement said.

Source: Reuters



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