Dr. Syed Mehboob
Senior Business and Political Analyst
http//:www.thenewslark.com
Pakistan and China are two brothers, neighbors, friends, supporters of each other. Their relation is time tested, deep rooted, historical and all weather. This friendship is based on mutual respect, cooperation and sincerity. China does not believe in interference into the internal affairs of its friendly countries. It never dictated, imposed its ideas on others. It respects languages, culture and religions of others. It never demanded from Pakistan to “DO MORE “instead this part of “Do MORE” has been taken by China towards its own side therefore it is doing more and more for the progress, prosperity, integrity, development and security of Pakistan. China is a “Friend in need and friend indeed”. Pakistan China friendship is described sweeter than honey, greater than Himalayas, deeper than oceans. This friendship has seen many hard times but regardless who was in government the friendship always remained strong. It is ever green and never saw autumn and Insha Allah it will never see it. This friendship is in the hearts and minds of people, renowned Pakistani author Ibne Insha has written a book “Chaltey Hu to Cheen ko Chalyee” which I read during my school time. Then while I was in college I studied Pakistan’s great scholar Hakeem Muhammad Saeed’s book “Chin ka Safarnama”. In recent years more than two dozen books on China were under my study and I have a collection of several books on China. Mr. Syed Hassan Jawed is a source of inspiration for me. He is an encyclopedia of China and author of more than a dozen books on China. Mr. Hassan Jawed is very kind hearted, virtuous and pure man and is ocean of knowledge.
I recall the recent history of Pakistan China friendship and its timeline told me that on May 21, 1951 Pakistan and China developed diplomatic ties and since than they never looked back, it is enhancing, strengthening day bay day. It is now at strategic depth. On April 2015, Chinese President XI Jinping paid a historic state visit to Pakistan, during which the two sides upgraded their relations to an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, opening a new chapter in the development of China-Pakistan Relations. As an important pioneer project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BIR), the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has taken the lead in achieving high quality development and brought tangible benefits to the two nations. At the same time, the two countries have expanded exchanges in fields such as trade, investment, science and technology, education, defence and culture, and are constantly exploring new areas of cooperation. China Pakistan Relations are increasingly becoming an example of good neighborliness and friendliness.China Pakistan stood side by side in weal and woe and two countries forged ironclad (cover and protected) friendship. China Pakistan relations have maintained a high level of operation and are full of vigor and vitality. China has been Pakistan’s largest trade partner for the last eight consecutive years. Pakistan’s export of Agricultural products to China have grown rapidly.
The ancient Silk Road, over 2000 years ago, tightly connected the people of both countries. CPEC portrayed as the game changer in the region and China has consistently supported Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir in various international forums such as the United Nations, while Pakistan continuously supported China on Xinjiang , Tibet and Taiwan. Pakistan has consistently supported China’s position that “There is only One China including Taiwan which is integral part of China”.
CPEC is a game changer and is highly important for Pakistan and a total of 36 projects have been completed or are underway, resulting in indirect investments of USD 25.4 billion cumulative revenue of US$ 17.55 billion, and tax payments amounting to US$ 2.12 billion. The corridor has generated 236,000 job opportunities and facilitated significant improvements such as the addition of 8,000 megawatts of electricity, 510 kilometers of highways, and 886 kilometers of national core transmission lines. Energy cooperation has emerged as a flagship area of CPEC, with 14 projects significantly contributing to Pakistan’s energy landscape, including coalfired power plants, hydropower, solar and wind energy projects.
President XI is a well-wisher and staunch supporter of Pakistan wants to see it as “ASIAN TIGER”. At the time of establishment of People’s Republic of China in October, 1949 Pakistan stood among the first nations which recognized China and it was third non-communist country which recognized China. Pakistan sent a delegation to China on January 4,1950, after three months of Chinese revolution and Prime Minister Nawab Zada Liaquat Ali Khan made a strategic decision to open Pakistani embassy in Beijing and Professor Ahmed Ali was the first Ambassador of Pakistan in China. Chinses Prime Minister Mr. Zhou Enlai was also gave his grace presence on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day celebration on 14th August, 1950. It was time when due to American influence United States refused to recognize China. Although Pakistan was member of SEATO and CENTO yet it supported China’s rightful place in the United Nations and consistently voted in favour of China during every annual session of the General Assembly.In 1954, the United States attempted to exert military pressure on China by establishing the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) military Alliance. Pakistan along with America, Great Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, became part of this alliance. In 1955, during the Afro-Asian conference in Indonesia Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra assured Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai that Pakistan would not participate in any military action against China. The Air Cooperation Agreement ( (ACO) signed between Pakistan and China paved the way for the implementation of Dhaka Canton (Guangzhou) Shanghai air services , making a significant mile stone in their relationship.By allowing Pakistan International Airlines ( PIA) to operate passenger flight on the Pakistan China air route, China gained essential connectivity to West Asia , the Middle East, and Africa a strategic opening that was deeply valued.Since the Air Treaty in 1963 , PIA was the sole foreign airline granted landing concessions by China at Beijing Airport for an extended period . PIA played significant role in facilitating China’s relations with the outside world, particularly African countries. In 1964, Pakistan became first noncommunist country whose airline-initiated flights to Beijing, significantly contributing to reducing China’s isolation and expanding its reach beyond the Persian Gulf and the middle east to Africa.The border agreement and the air link established through Pakistan dealt a severe blow to America’s containment policy against CHINA, and this friendly initiative by Pakistan remains fondly remembered by China to this day. The BENDUNG CONFERENCE (Asian – African conference) in 1955 witnessed Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai expressing a keen desire to establish close and friendly relations with Pakistan Subsequently, in 1955 Chinese Vice President Song Qingling, visited Pakistan and in 1956, Pakistan Prime Minister Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy,reciprocated the visit to China,solidifying the foundation of their enduring friendship. The Foundation of this strong friendship between two countries was laid through two pivotal bilateral agreements, which not only solidified their relations but also far reaching international implications. The 1963 Boundary Agreement between Pakistan and China was a landmark document that formally recognized all the borders between the two nations ensuring the prevention of any future disputes. While this agreement bolstered their ties, India strongly reacted and objected on this agreement as this agreement resulted for Pakistan gaining a green area of 1,942 kilometers. During 1965 war, China offered unwavering support to Pakistan, leading both Russia and United States to urge a ceasefire as per the security council resolutions. Pakistan paved the way in developing US and China relations when there was a historic visit of Henry Kessinger to China and in 1972 President Richard Nixon’s visit to China and establishment of China US relations. China go the status of permanent member of UN security council and veto power.Pakistan has also played a very important role on establishing relations between China and Arab countries.
To Be Continued
