ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday lauded the \u201csteadfast\u201d Pakistan\u2013China friendship, maintaining that Beijing has supported Islamabad in an \u201cunwavering fashion unmatched in the annals of history\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier was addressing a ceremony in Islamabad to mark the 75th anniversary of Pakistan\u2013China diplomatic relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister began his speech by extending felicitations to the Chinese leadership and people on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSeventy-five years ago, our founding fathers laid the foundation of our bilateral diplomatic relations,\u201d he said, adding: \u201cPakistan was the first Muslim country to recognise China and one of the first countries in the world to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThrough our mutual efforts and endeavours, and above all, sincerity of purpose, we have built a relationship that is second to none and very unique in the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that throughout these 75 years, the Chinese leadership and people have stood with Pakistan like a \u201csolid rock\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEarthquakes, floods, peace and difficult times \u2014 China has always supported Pakistan in an unwavering fashion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier also reaffirmed that Pakistan has always supported the \u201cOne China\u201d policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTill today and forever, we support the One China policy, without fear or favour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shehbaz said that the China\u2013Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), under China\u2019s Belt and Road Initiative of President Xi Jinping, was a \u201cgreat manifestation\u201d of China\u2019s commitment to support Pakistan, promote its economy, provide jobs, and bring prosperity and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Referring to recent efforts to hold peace talks between the United States and Iran, the prime minister said that China had \u201cfully supported\u201d Pakistan\u2019s peace initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere has been a history of supporting each other without political swings or conditions. China has been a steadfast and trusted friend of Pakistan,\u201d he said, adding that the journey would continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that in the industrial and technological sectors, China was second to none, emphasising that the \u201cworld cannot move forward without China.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister also reiterated that the security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan was a matter of \u201cparamount importance\u201d for the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will spare no effort to provide the highest level of security to Chinese nationals.\u201dPresident Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the ceremony to commemorate 75 years of Pakistan China friendship in Islamabad on May 21, 2026. \u2014 Photo via Presidency<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his remarks, President Asif Ali Zardari said, \u201cSeventy-five years ago, our two nations began a journey rooted in mutual respect and shared aspirations. Today, this journey has evolved into an all-weather, unique strategic cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPakistan and China have stood by each other through various challenges, safeguarding each other\u2019s core interests,\u201d President Zardari said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasised that friendship with China is a cornerstone of Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy, which enjoys \u201ctotal public, political and institutional support; thus, the relationship enjoys continuity across generations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zardari remarked that President Xi\u2019s initiatives and support for deeper bilateral cooperation had opened new avenues for shared prosperity and regional stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Zardari also thanked the Chinese government for its support in development projects, particularly the Gwadar Port, and termed the China\u2013Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a historic initiative that continues to play a transformative role in Pakistan\u2019s socio-economic progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Asif Ali Zardari, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishq Dar and other leaders were present on the occasion. \u2014President Asif Ali Zardari during the ceremony to commemorate 75 years of Pakistan China friendship in Islamabad on May 21, 2026. \u2014 Photo via Presidency<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People\u2019s Congress of China Cai Dafeng, represented the Chinese leadership on the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLooking back in history, on May 21, 1951, Pakistan and China formally established diplomatic relations, making Pakistan the first Islamic country to establish diplomatic ties with China,\u201d Dafeng said while addressing the ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that Islamabad and Beijing had together opened a new chapter of mutual \u201cunderstanding, affinity and integration\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor 75 years, we have stayed true to our original aspiration, and that has forged a unique ironclad friendship amid a changing international landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur cooperation carries the amity of our people and demonstrates the true essence of being good neighbours, good friends, good partners, and good brothers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also recalled the Chinese president\u2019s visit to Pakistan in 2015, adding that it had elevated bilateral relations between Pakistan and China to an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and drawn a blueprint for cooperation between the two countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2018, he added that the two countries had agreed to build an even closer community with a shared future for a new era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt present, both China and Pakistan shoulder the historic task of national rejuvenation. We are both committed to the dream of building prosperous countries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dafeng said that as changes were unfolding like never before, there was a greater need than ever to work closely together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChina-Pakistan relations are characterised by a high degree of political mutual trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChina also firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reaffirmed that China is ready to work with Pakistan to strengthen strategic communication and maintain high-level exchanges, providing timely guidance for the development of bilateral relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dafeng added that China stood ready to work with Pakistan to build CPEC 2.0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChina stands ready to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, mining and industry, and to expand collaboration further into areas such as IT, digital technology, science and technology, the oceans, green development, and climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also supported Pakistan\u2019s efforts to combat terrorism, expressing hope that Pakistan would continue to take strong and effective measures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday lauded the \u201csteadfast\u201d Pakistan\u2013China friendship, maintaining that Beijing has supported Islamabad in an \u201cunwavering fashion unmatched in the annals of history\u201d. The premier was addressing a ceremony in Islamabad to mark the 75th anniversary of Pakistan\u2013China diplomatic relations. The prime minister began his speech by extending felicitations […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":126326,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n