Pakistan, China reaffirm enduring strategic partnership
Celina Ali
Rawalpindi: Pakistan and China this week reaffirmed the depth of their longstanding strategic partnership on Saturday as the General Headquarters (GHQ) hosted a ceremony to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with senior military and diplomatic leadership from both countries underscoring their shared commitment to defence cooperation, regional peace and the continued expansion of bilateral ties.
The commemorative event, held at GHQ in Rawalpindi in Saturday afternoon, brought together Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, China’s Defence Attaché to Pakistan Major General Wang Zhong, officials of the Chinese Embassy and senior officers representing Pakistan’s Army, Navy and Air Force, reflecting the close institutional relationship between the armed forces of the two neighbouring countries.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Asim Munir addressed the gathering and reaffirmed the enduring strength of Pakistan-China relations, describing the friendship between the two nations as “unique, time-tested and steadfast despite evolving regional and global challenges.”
The military chief said the Pakistan Armed Forces and the PLA had consistently stood together as trusted partners, bound by mutual confidence, unwavering support and a common commitment to safeguarding regional peace, stability and shared strategic interests.
Highlighting the close defence relationship between Islamabad and Beijing, he observed that military cooperation between the two countries had evolved into one of the defining pillars of the broader Pakistan-China strategic partnership, contributing significantly to regional security and mutual trust.
Field Marshal Munir also paid tribute to the People’s Liberation Army for its contributions to China’s national defence, socio-economic development and efforts aimed at promoting international peace and security.
The ISPR stated that the ceremony reflected the longstanding military-to-military relationship between Pakistan and China, which has steadily expanded over the years through joint exercises, defence technology cooperation, professional exchanges, counterterrorism collaboration and strategic consultations.
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, speaking at the event as the guest of honour, expressed appreciation to the Chief of Defence Forces for hosting the anniversary ceremony and praised the close friendship that continues to bind the two countries.
According to the military’s media wing, the ambassador acknowledged the immense contributions and sacrifices rendered by the Pakistan Armed Forces in combating terrorism and maintaining regional stability.
He reiterated China’s unwavering support for Pakistan and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to further strengthening the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, describing bilateral relations as an enduring example of mutual trust, strategic cooperation and shared development.
The participation of senior military officials and diplomats from both sides highlighted the institutional depth of Pakistan-China defence engagement, which has remained one of the strongest dimensions of bilateral relations for decades.
The anniversary celebrations came at a time when Islamabad and Beijing have significantly expanded cooperation across defence, diplomacy, economic development and emerging technologies, reflecting the growing scope of their strategic partnership.
Pakistan and China have witnessed sustained high-level engagement throughout the year, with both governments repeatedly reaffirming support for each other’s core national interests while advancing cooperation under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0).
A major milestone in bilateral relations was achieved during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to China in May, when the two sides agreed to further deepen their All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership through enhanced defence collaboration, closer security coordination and accelerated implementation of CPEC 2.0.
The two countries also pledged to strengthen cooperation against terrorism, improve security arrangements for Chinese nationals and projects operating in Pakistan, and maintain close coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Earlier in January, Pakistan and China held the seventh round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing, where both countries reaffirmed their policy of zero tolerance for terrorism, agreed to expand security cooperation and reiterated their commitment to aligning national development strategies under CPEC 2.0.
The dialogue also underscored the importance of maintaining close coordination on regional peace and stability, particularly regarding developments in Afghanistan and broader regional security dynamics.
Beyond defence and diplomacy, bilateral cooperation has increasingly diversified into emerging sectors including agriculture, livestock, mineral development, technology transfer, industrial collaboration and human resource development.
Since the beginning of the year, Chinese enterprises have signed multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding with Pakistani partners aimed at boosting agricultural investment, livestock improvement, mining cooperation, scientific research and industrial modernization.
Both countries have also intensified collaboration in innovation, vocational training, higher education and talent development as part of efforts to broaden the economic foundations of CPEC’s next phase and promote sustainable long-term growth.
