Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif marked 75 years of Pakistan-China ties on Tuesday. He described bilateral relations as two souls and one heart during a special ceremony in Beijing.
The prime minister said the historic relationship between Islamabad and Beijing was built through the great commitment, devotion, and dedication of visionary leaders over more than seven decades.
Pakistan-China relations have reached an unmatched level in international diplomacy, Sharif added, with no parallel found to the trust and cooperation shared by the two countries.
He praised China’s remarkable transformation into a global economic and military power, attributing its rise to hard work, steadfastness, and untiring efforts under successive leaderships.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has lifted over 800 million people out of poverty through visionary policies, Sharif noted. Despite China’s economic and military strength, he is respected as one of the most towering leaders of modern times due to his philosophy of promoting peace, dialogue, and diplomacy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recalled how former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai was warmly welcomed in Lahore decades ago, accompanied by Pakistani foreign minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He also highlighted China’s assistance during Pakistan’s 2010 floods, with experts, helicopters, and rescue teams actively participating in relief efforts.
Sharif stressed that the roots of Pakistan-China friendship have grown deeper over time, urging both nations to strengthen their relationship for future generations. He expressed confidence that Pakistan could develop a mini-Chinese economic model through collective hard work, reforms, and sacrifices.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng congratulated both countries on the milestone anniversary and reaffirmed Beijing’s unwavering support for Pakistan. He highlighted projects like the Karakoram Highway and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0 that have delivered tangible benefits to both nations.
Han Zheng said China was ready to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aligning China’s 15th Five-Year Development Plan with Pakistan’s URAAN initiative, and accelerating modernization efforts through deeper collaboration amid global uncertainty and transformation.