Xi Jinping and Asif Ali Zardari Mark 75 Years of Pakistan-China Diplomatic Relations

Pakistan and China marked 75 years of diplomatic relations with messages and pledges that they would deepen strategic cooperation, security coordination, and strengthen CPEC ties.

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In a congratulatory message, President Xi Jinping told President Asif Ali Zardari that “Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 75 years ago, no matter how the international situation has changed, the friendship between China and Pakistan has always remained rock-solid and unbreakable,” and he said both sides should “accelerate efforts to build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.”

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Zardari, in his message, said the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership had “stood the test of time and emerged as a key pillar for peace, stability and development in the region,” while also praising Xi’s global initiatives as carrying “far-reaching significance.”

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also exchanged congratulatory messages, with Li saying China was ready to strengthen solidarity and strategic coordination while jointly advancing the upgraded Version 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The anniversary events included a ceremony and photo exhibition in Islamabad attended by senior Pakistani leadership and Chinese dignitaries, where Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was the first Muslim country to recognise the People’s Republic of China and among the earliest nations to establish diplomatic ties with Beijing in 1951.

At the Islamabad ceremony marking the 75th anniversary, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured Chinese leadership that Pakistan would provide the “highest level of security” for Chinese nationals in Pakistan and said, “We will not spare any effort to provide the highest level of security to our Chinese brothers here in this country.”

Sharif also tied the security pledge to counterterror cooperation and to the next phase of CPEC, saying the two nations would enhance their partnership in “CPEC 2.0,” which focuses on agriculture, IT, artificial intelligence, special economic zones and mines and minerals.

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The same anniversary setting included Pakistan’s reaffirmation of the One China Policy, with President Zardari telling the ceremony that he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the “One China Policy” and thanking Beijing for its consistent support on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the upcoming visit by Sharif to China would be an opportunity to carry forward traditional friendship and deepen cooperation, adding that “China hopes that both sides will take the upcoming visit as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen cooperation across the board, and write a new chapter in building an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.”

Guo also said the visit would include meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang and that Sharif would attend a reception celebrating the 75th anniversary and visit Zhejiang Province.

Beyond the anniversary messages, the sources linked the next phase of cooperation to CPEC 2.0 and to areas ranging from agriculture and information technology to mines and minerals, with Pakistani leaders describing the corridor as a historic initiative and a transformative role in Pakistan’s socio-economic development.

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In a separate message released by the Pakistani prime minister’s office, Shehbaz Sharif said CPEC’s next phase would place greater emphasis on “industrialization, agriculture, information technology, science and technology, green development, and stronger people-centered cooperation,” while also describing cooperation expanding into “digital economy, innovation, space cooperation, education and cultural exchanges.”

The anniversary coverage also highlighted the scale of CPEC’s impact as described by Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who said CPEC “has garnered over $25.9 billion in direct investment and created over 260,000 jobs.”

Jiang Zaidong further stressed that frequent high-level exchanges provided political guidance and momentum, and he said the two countries “closely coordinate, communicate and consult” at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other multilateral platforms.

In parallel, Al Jazeera’s account of the 75-year relationship quoted Maria Adele Carrai saying, “What has actually held it together is structural complementarity, not affinity,” as it described the anniversary celebrations alongside the broader history of how Pakistan and China have built their bond.