Table of Contents
Introduction
China–Pakistan relations began in 1950 when Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China (PRC) regime on Mainland China. Since then, both countries have placed considerable importance on the maintenance of an extremely close and supportive special relationship and the two countries have regularly exchanged high-level visits resulting in a variety of agreements.
The PRC has provided economic, military, and technical assistance to Pakistan, and each country considers the other a close strategic ally.
Bilateral relations have evolved from an initial Chinese policy of neutrality to a partnership with a smaller but militarily powerful Pakistan. Diplomatic relations were established in 1950, boundary issues resolved in 1963, military assistance began in 1966, a strategic alliance was formed in 1972, and economic co-operation began in 1979.
China has become Pakistan’s largest supplier of arms and its third-largest trading partner.
Maintaining close relations with China is a central part of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Pakistan has served as China’s main bridge to the Islamic world, and also played an important role in bridging the communication gap between the PRC and the West by facilitating U.S. President Richard Nixon’s historic 1972 visit to China.
The relations between Pakistan and China have been described by Pakistan’s ambassador to China as “higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans, stronger than steel, dearer than eyesight, sweeter than honey, and so on.”
According to a 2014 BBC World Service Poll, 75% of Pakistanis view China’s influence positively with only 15% expressing a negative view. In the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese people hold the third most positive opinions of Pakistan’s influence in the world, behind Indonesia and Pakistan itself.
‘If you love China, love Pakistan too.’ – Li Keqiang, Premier of the People’s Republic of China
Historical Relations
Buddhist monks from the area of what is now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan were involved in the Silk Road transmission of Buddhism to Han dynasty China. The Han dynasty’s Protectorate of the Western Regions bordered the Kushan Empire. Faxian traveled in what is now modern-day Pakistan.
1947 to 1979
Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China were established on 21 May 1951, shortly after the Republic of China lost power in the Mainland in 1949. While initially ambivalent towards the idea of a Communist country on its borders, Pakistan hoped that China would serve as a counterweight to Indian influence. Pakistan becomes the third non-communist country, and first Muslim one, to recognize the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
In 1956, Pakistani Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai signed the Treaty of Friendship Between China and Pakistan, marking closer bilateral ties.
With escalating border tensions leading to the 1962 Sino-Indian war, China and Pakistan aligned with each other in a joint effort to counter India and the Soviet Union as both have border disputes with India.
One year after China’s border war with India, Pakistan ceded the Trans-Karakoram Tract to China to end border disputes and improve diplomatic relations in 1963.
Pakistan helps the U.S. arrange the 1972 Nixon visit to China.
1978 – The Karakoram Highway linking the mountainous Northern Pakistan with Western China officially opened in 1978.
1980 – 2000
China and the U.S. provided support through Pakistan to the Afghan guerillas fighting Soviet forces in the 1980s.
China and Pakistan reached a comprehensive nuclear co-operation agreement in 1986.
Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited Pakistan in 1996.
A 300-megawatt nuclear power plant, built with Chinese help in Punjab province, was completed in 1999.
2001 to 2010
A joint-ventured Chinese-Pakistani tank, the MBT-2000 (Al-Khalid) MBT was completed in 2001.
The building of the Gwadar deep sea port began, with China as the primary investor in 2002.
Pakistan and China signed a $110 million contract for the construction of a housing project on Multan Road in Lahore in 2003.
The Sino-Pakistani joint-ventured multirole fighter aircraft – the JF-17 Thunder (FC-1 Fierce Dragon) was formally rolled out in 2007.
China and Pakistan signed a free trade agreement in 2008.
The F-22P frigate, came into service with the Pakistani Navy in 2008.
The ISI arrested several suspected Uyghur terrorists seeking refuge in Pakistan in 2009.
Pakistan and China conducted a joint anti-terrorism drill in 2010.
China donated $260 million in dollars to flood-struck Pakistan and sent 4 military rescue helicopters to assist in rescue operations in 2010.
Wen Jiabao visited Pakistan and more than 30 billion dollars worth of deals were signed in 2010.
2011 to date
Trade between China and Pakistan hit a 12-month figure of $12 billion for the first time in 2012.
Management of Gwadar Port was handed over to state-run Chinese Overseas Port Holdings after previously being managed by Singapore’s PSA International in 2013.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Pakistan in 2013.
On 5 July 2013, Pakistan and China approved the Pak-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) which would link Pakistan’s Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea and Kashgar in Xinjiang in northwest China. The $18 billion project would also includes the construction of a 200 km-long tunnel.
On 24 December 2013, China announced a commitment $6.5 billion to finance the construction of a major nuclear power project in Karachi, the project which would have two reactors with a capacity of 1,100 megawatts each.
Chinese Premier announced investment of $31.5 billion in Pakistan mainly in countries energy, infrastructure and port expansion for Gwadar in 2014. The projects included Lahore-Karachi motorway, Gwadar Port expansion and energy sector projects in Gadani and six coal projects near Thar coalfield.
On 22 May 2014, the governments of Pakistan and China signed an agreement to start a 27.1 km long metro train project in Lahore – named Orange Line – at the cost of $1.27 billion.
On 8 November 2014, Pakistan and China signed 19 agreements particularly relating to China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, China pledged a total investment worth of $42 billion. While Pakistan pledged to help China in its fight concerning the Xinjiang conflict.
On 20 April 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by the First Lady and a delegation of high-level officials and businessmen, visits Pakistan. It is the first visit to Pakistan by a Chinese president after a gap of 9 years and the first foreign trip of Xi in 2015. 51 Memorandums of Understanding are signed, including the plan of “Pakistan China Economic Corridor”.
China Supported Pakistan’s stance in the Kashmir in the aftermath of Pulwama Attack.
China has helped Pakistan in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meetings to avoid blacklisting.