Pakistan and China has long
history of reliable and time tested relationship. PakChina friendship has been
proved to be model of friendship between two neighboring states. Both states
have strong political, defence, social and economic relations. The changes
taking place in government of both states has not affected the relations. This
friendship is based on the principle of equality and mutual interests in all the
fields of life. Both states respect the independence, sovereignty and
territorial integrity of each other. Both countries are giving much importance
to their mutual relations in foreign policy.
Pakistan has supported China in many issues whereas, China has always provided
us defence and economic assistance. In Pakistan China has and still is investing
in the development of infrastructure, roads, highway, ports, and energy and
communications sectors. Pakistan has always welcomed the Chinese investment for
social and economic development.
Long before the establishment of political relation, trade relations have
developed as part of bilateral scheme of international trade between china and
Pakistan. China has actively pursued trade relations with a number of countries
including Pakistan. The two countries have been involved in trade that signifies
continued good relations. China has emerged as Pakistan's dependable partner.
Pak-China relations expanded in various fields for achieving economic self
reliance and stable economic position for Pakistan.
The trade between the two countries has a long history. China has constructed
projects in Pakistan that are worth billions of dollars, while many more are in
the pipeline. Chinese companies have decided to invest in Pakistan's energy,
infrastructure, telecom, mineral exploration and banking sectors. The two
countries have signed hundreds of agreements, contracts and memoranda of
understandings on close co-operation in the recent past.
The most recent memorandum signed by both countries declares the Chinese city of
Zhuhai and Pakistan’s Gwadar as ‘twin cities’. The MoU was signed by vice mayor
Zhuhai Wang Qingl Li, chairman district council Gwadar Babu Gulab and Chairman
Gwadar port authority Dostain Jamaldini in Gwadar. This is just another glorious
example of sharing and friendship between both nations.
The two sides have undertaken several mega infrastructural projects in Pakistan
such as the Gwadar Deep Sea Port, the Coastal-Highway linking Karachi with
Gwadar, upgrading of the Karakoram Highway, the Chashma nuclear power plants,
and a number of hydro-power projects.
China provides economic aid and military equipment to Pakistan, which is very
important for Pakistan due to its border and relations with India. India - China
relationship during sixties provides a good opportunity for Pakistan to get all
type of assistance from China. Any change in Chinese policy and economic
conditions would have great impact on Pakistan's economy, as China is the major
financer of Pakistan's military and development projects. Any decrease in
China's economic growth level can reduce the economic and military aid towards
Pakistan. Pakistan needs China's help in developing the co-operation in economic
projects like trade and energy.
Pakistan needs energy resources and nuclear power plants from China as Pakistan
is facing the energy crises in the country. China can provide these kinds of
energy resources to counter the energy crises in Pakistan with infrastructural
development and economic aid. Chinese government has singed some sort of
infrastructural development projects with Pakistan, which will benefit both
countries in increasing trade and water management resources. High development
percentage of China has produced a positive effect on Pakistani markets by
providing cheaper goods than to American and European manufacturers. China's
products are very much popular in Pakistani markets due to their prices and
different choices in quality as according to people's need.
Today, apart from huge amount of unexplored oil and gas, Pakistan has 185
billion tons of coal reserves, which would be converted into energy to satisfy
Pakistan's growing demand. Besides, Pakistan welcomes Chinese experts for the
exploration of its oil and gas resources. Pakistan assured Chinese investors for
special economic incentives like duty-free import of plant and machinery,
exemption from sales tax and income tax. In spite of a stiff resistance from New
Delhi and Washington, China has agreed to establish two nuclear plants as part
of the civil nuclear energy program.
Further, the cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan have undergone a long
history. It started more than two thousand years ago. Shortly after the founding
of New China in 1949, the two countries began their diplomatic ties and have
ever since maintained close and friendly cooperative relations in various fields
like politics, economy as well as culture. The governments of the two countries
signed The Cultural Cooperation Agreement between Pakistan and China on March
25, 1965, when the first executive program for the agreement was also signed.
China-Pak cultural exchanges and cooperation have made continuous headways ever
since the diplomatic ties of the two countries have improved. Both countries
have also carried out a number of fruitful exchanges and cooperation in art,
literature, education, information, sports, youth affairs, cultural relics,
archives, publications, health and women affairs etc. In the past half a decade,
Chinese art troupes visited Pakistan many times including folk song and dance
troupe, traditional instrumental music troupe and acrobatic troupe etc. and
exchanges also took place in the areas like painting, handicrafts as well as
puppet show etc.
In literature, quite a few writings from both sides have been translated into
each other's language throughout the years. In TV and film, a special agreement
was signed by the two governments in order to promote the cooperation in this
field, and in mid 1980s several TV programs were jointly produced by two
countries' TV channels including Affection on the Highway which captured the
fondness from the people of both countries.
China-Pak educational exchanges and cooperation have developed a lot too over
the past years. Now China annually offers scholarships to Pakistan while
Pakistan in return also offers scholarships to students from China. From the
year 2003, Pakistan Higher Education Commission started a special project where
qualified students would be selected to explore their doctor's degree in China
on government-financed basis. Many such students have been sent under this
project. Apart from the above, annually around 500 self-financed students in
Pakistan now go to China to study medicine, electronics and engineering
technology etc., and the Chinese students who come to Pakistan for self-financed
study are also in a big number every year.
The friendship between China and Pakistan had beyond the government
relationship, it widespread to common people of both countries. So, no matter
who becomes leader of China and Pakistan, they would surely follow the will of
common people.