Friends are for life but things are very different when it comes to diplomacy and national narrative. China and Pakistan have proved their friendship is for every season and reason. They have come a long way and has reciprocated favors to each other for national interest. Today, we are celebrating 70th anniversary of Pak-china relations here. 10 years back, we observed ‘Companionship Year’ and stamped 60 years of political binds with high-profile state visits, multi-billion- dollar monetary arrangements, the declaration of joint foundation activities and joint military activities.
Let’s have a bird eye view of how it all started; Back then, Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on May 21st more, 1951. Pakistan was the third non-socialist and the main Muslim nation to recognize China in 1950. Since then, both neighboring countries developed a long and symbiotic relationship which became stronger than any other country by developing certain relationships like Diplomatic relations which were established between them in
1950. Military assistance began in 1966 and economic co-operation began in 1979. Furthermore, due to Pakistan, China became a member of UN. The reinforcing relations of these two countries have gotten a model for an amicable concurrence of creating adjoining nations, both appreciating solid reciprocal social, financial and military connections, endeavoring together for advancing harmony, security and financial flourishing in Asia.
It is a fact that China is the only major power of Asia that can maintain balance of power, stability and peace in this region and it’s international strategy towards South Asia comprises of State to State relations with five standards of concurrences which are common trust, strategic distance in interior undertakings, regard of sway of autonomous state, certainty and understanding. International Relations consistently rely on public interest and in South Asia, China’s greatest interest is its economic interest. China is an enormous guide benefactor to all South Asian nations particularly Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan is the most grounded partner of China around here and the relationship among them have stayed consistent from the very start. These two states can be called as the good neighbors who assist each other during the time of crisis, creating a good and dear kinship. Apart from that, both countries have had always a welcoming attitude towards each other in different situations due to which right from their independence – till today, in the 21st century – they are cooperative, supportive, encouraging, and are one of the most amicable states among the other states of the world.
There are no perpetual companions and enemies in global relations thus the lasting thing is National interest which relies on local and global circumstance, it is a Nation’s self-interest which makes its foreign policy. The relation between two states has been described as higher than Himalaya, deeper than Arabian Sea and has long history of reliable and time tested relationship where Pakistan supported China’s point of view on one China policy, Tibet and Taiwan issues whereas China always consistently defends and provides economic assistance to Pakistan.
Moreover, Pakistan welcomed the Chinese investment for social and economic development such as investing in the development of infrastructure, roads,
highway, ports, and energy and communications. If we further look into it, China supported Pakistan’s role against terrorism in this region as well as provided material and moral support to it during Soviet invasion in Afghanistan.
Due to sponsoring wide variety of projects in Pakistan like Thar coal power plant, Gawadar deep sea port, Road network corridor from Kashger to Gawadar and many more which are currently under construction and planning like CPEC (china- pak economic corridor) which is part of china’s one Belt one Road initiative in Pakistan etc., the bond between two countries became more stronger, benefitting both in various ways like CPEC will significantly enhance China’s capacity to expand its economic and strategic relations with energy-rich Middle Eastern countries. Additionally, CPEC will also allow China to connect the Arab countries to the Belt and Road network in Central Asia and Eurasia and on the other hand, it will potentially boost up Pakistan’s economy, making it a regional economic hub along with increasing the employment opportunities for citizens.
China has always helped Pakistan to nurture its economy be it special economic zones, technology parks, business incubators and what not, all the models have been implemented in it recently. These are derived from the experiences and examples of China. Not only that we have seen even in this pandemic they have stood as strong with us as possible, starting from the initial provision of vaccines, health care and safety supplies to Pakistan. Markedly, they have helped Pakistan in a lot other ways, in technology transfer, in experiences of COVID, and in lessons that has helped Pakistan in COVID-19. With this the largest supply of vaccine to Pakistan in terms of procurement and in terms of donations are both from them.
Summing this all up and concluding the debate of whose benefitting from whom, I feel it’s a win-win situation. The companionship among China and Pakistan is all climate and never-ending. There are a lot of things that China can teach us, once stated in an article, where it was asked from China that how did they manage it to pull so far, they openly admitted and said that “we have more members to our family so we have to cook a larger and heavier meal”. On this point we need to realize that China has not only enabled their citizens but has ensured the provision of right to education, right to job and right to be financially independent. It’s a matter of a fact that we’re holding an extremely important geographical position which China can capitalize on.
So far I believe that the journey of China from taking manufacturing orders from overseas companies to developing and manufacturing their own products is commendable. Not only does this speak of how far they have come as a country but also shows how much they value the local economy and work for its promotion and betterment. This has taught us a lot and we need to localize all these examples and case studies and implement them in Pakistan to see our country more vibrant, inclusive, independent and stable.
The Writer Is A Student Of University Of Modern Languages (NUML) Department of Mass Communication
