Pakistan and China enjoy an exemplary relationship. Our relationship is based on equality, mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, which serves well our mutual interests. In general we support each other and complement each other at various global forums. The history of our relations stretches more than two thousand years ago, when Fa Xian and Xuan Zang, two famous monks of ancient China traveled to Pakistan and lived here for a long time to study Buddhism. A very famous book in China “Journey to the West” is full of vivid experiences relating to their stay in Pakistan. Of course two thousand years ago, Pakistan did not exist, back then it was still the Indian Sub-continent. But the names of cities mentioned in the “Journey to the West” and which visited by these two famous Monks belong to present day Pakistan like Swat, Taxila, Peshawar etc. which were the great centers of the Ghandhara civilization.
Many years after the liberation of China on 1 October 1949, major regions of the world, especially the countries in Europe, American, Japan, Canada and Australia, recognized Taiwan as legitimate representative of China. Only Russia and a few socialist countries recognized the People’s Republic of China. Pakistan was the first non-communist country, which sent a high level official delegation, just 3 months after the liberation of China to pay an official visit to Beijing, on 4thJanuary 1950. However, it took more than one year to complete all necessary formalities to officially establish diplomatic relations with Peoples Republic of China on 21st May 1951.
Since the establishment of relation between the two countries, we have supported each other on all outstanding issues weather it was internal matter or International issues. China has been supporting Pakistan’s stance at global level on critical issues, such as UNSC expansion, Nuclear Supplier Group, Peace and Security, regional cooperation and development, etc. on Kashmir, the Afghan issue the Indian issues and etc. Pakistan is supports China on the Tibetan, the Taiwan, the Xinjiang and the Hong Kong issue etc. In the international arena, we have identical stance on Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Libya, etc. In the United Nations Security Council, we both vote in complete harmony and in mutual favor of each other’s interests.
Pakistan was the leading nation in lobbying China’s UN membership in 1971. It was also among the strongest supporters of China’s membership of World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2002. As a matter of fact, China has resolved disputes with every neighboring country in the past, except for India and Bhutan. For example, China enjoyed a very good relationship with Russia at the time of liberation, but relations got tense for three decades in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Recently, again the China-Russia relationship is growing at a healthy pace. China was having tense relations with Japan at the time of liberation until 1978, but normal relation were restored in the 1980s. However, tension somewhat returned since the starting of the last decade. Similarly, China had to fight a war with India under difficult conditions in 1962. Border disputes and Tibet are two major hurdles in the relationship between India and China. Vietnam also had a war with China and border disputes between the two countries remain still un-resolved. With Myanmar, there exists a few differences too. Similarly in South China Sea, China is engaged in reducing tension with Philippine and other countries of the region. Even, with North Korea, there exists a few differences. Pakistan is the only country, in its neighborhood, which has never any dispute with China.
In Pakistan, political changes are frequent, sometimes the military setups are in power, and sometimes democratic governments. Regardless of changes happening in internal politics of Pakistan, relations between Pakistan and China have remained cordial and will remain un-changed. The same principle follows for China too, whether it was era of Cultural Revolution, Economic Reforms, or change of leadership, there have never impacted Pakistan China relations. We are time tested friends, and will remain a model for friendship among nations forever.
China’s development in the late 90’s has elevated China’s global position. It is now the world’s second largest economy. Several countries want to establish cooperative relations, economic and strategic collaboration with China, but Pakistan has been China’s partner since the 1960s, when China had little to offer. Our friendship was based on mutual respect and love for peace and harmony soit sustained all odds. True friends will stand with each other, at all critical points, and we did it. An ancient metaphor says “The test of horse is as the millage it has run, the test of grass is seen by its withstanding against strong wind, the strength of the pine tree is judged by the number of winters it had and the strength of friendship is tested by time and tribulations”
Pakistan is a staunch supporter of “One Belt One Road” initiatives introduced by President Xi Jinping. The project entails a total of 65 countries and Pakistan is one of the most important countries of this important initiative. Out of the 6 proposed routes of traditional silk route, “China Pakistan Economic corridor” (CPEC) is the pilot project. It is the most feasible, most convenient and shortest route for China to West, Middle East, Gulf and Africa. It is the flagship project of the OBOR project. Both Governments are giving it the highest priority. It will help Pakistan to revive its economy, solve unemployment issues, overcome power shortage, up-lift infrastructure, help political stability & improve world ranking. China will have the shortest trade route and hence will be making huge saving in transportation time and cost, with a very convenient access to Indian Ocean/ Arabian Sea. It will also provide somewhat an alternative route to the Pacific Ocean, where turmoil and uncertainty in South China Sea clouds future prospects. It will provide China an un-interrupted and secure energy supply from the energy abundant regions of Middle East. Fast moving Railways across the Karakorum and Oil/Gas Pipelines will usher a new era of peace and prosperity.
We are “all weather friends”. The leadership of two countries describe the relationship as “higher than Mountains”, Sweeter than Honey”, “Stronger than Steel”, “Deeper than ocean”. Further more recently there is a new term “Tie Ge Men” which means “Real Iron Brother”.
The writer is a sinologist and researcher at Chinese Studies Center of Excellence, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad. He can be reached at awanzamir@yahoo.com
