Ties have grown into strong partnership
Since Pakistan and China established diplomatic relations in 1951, relations between the two countries have grown into a partnership, which is captured in poetic metaphors such as being higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, stronger than steel and sweeter than honey. We are "iron brothers".
Our rivers and mountains join us. Since ancient times, our people have interacted with each other. About 2,000 years ago, monks Xuan Zang and Fa Xian went to such areas as Swat and Peshawar, which are parts of today's Pakistan, to study Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism traveled from areas of Pakistan to China and Northeast Asia. The ancient silk route was used by our traders for merchandise. We need to remind ourselves of this shared history.
Pakistan and China are all-weather and time-tested friends. We are bound together by unique ties of fraternity and friendship that have withstood global and regional upheaval and remained impervious to political changes in our countries.
Pakistan, which has a history of about 5,000 years, is a melting pot of cultures and civilizations. Our culture reflects the diversity of various influences that affected our region.
With nearly 200 million people, Pakistan is the sixth-most populous country at the trijunction of the important regions of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. It is endowed with enormous potential - both in terms of natural and human resources.
Pakistan and China have established a strategic cooperative partnership, which is multifaceted and multidimensional. This strength of our relationship has been highlighted by visible increases in high-level political exchanges.
Our friendship is based on mutual trust and mutual respect and serves the cause of peace and stability. We closely collaborate with each other in the United Nations and at other international forums. We together oppose terrorism, separatism and extremism.
Economic cooperation has also received a boost in recent years. There are over 13,000 Chinese citizens working in Pakistan in energy, communications, infrastructure and science and technology-related projects. Our bilateral trade is over $18 billion. Pakistan and China have set up banks to promote financial sector cooperation.
Cooperation in education and the academic field is also growing. There is a yearning among Pakistani youth to learn about Chinese culture and Chinese language while the number of Chinese institutions imparting Urdu language is also growing, strengthening our peopleto-people contacts.
President Xi Jinping paid a historic and successful visit to Pakistan in April 2015. Over 50 agreements covering transport infrastructure, energy, port, industrial zones, education cooperation and IT were signed.
Transport projects seek to improve North-South and East-West linkages of our existing road and railway networks. Energy projects aim at adding nearly 10,000 mW to the national grid by 2017-18. Projects specific to Gwadar are aimed at improving port operations and connectivity.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative that President Xi proposed in 2013. The CPEC is a vital bridge that connects the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
By linking China with the Arabian Sea, the CPEC will optimize trade potential and enhance energy security of China, Pakistan and our wider region, directly benefiting 3 billion people living in China, South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.
The government of Pakistan offers a liberal investment regime for Chinese investors and a secure climate for their work.
The regulatory regime in the form of a free trade agreement and currency swap agreement provides an enabling environment for the Chinese business community to develop win-win partnerships.
The sectors of agriculture, textiles, minerals, gemstones, leather goods, surgical goods, food processing and several others have vast potential for mutual industrial collaboration.
Pakistani people admire the progress China has achieved, especially in the last three decades. Today, China is playing an important role for peace and development in the world. Chinese civilization affected the world in the past and its impact is much more pronounced today than in the past.
The Chinese dream of "national rejuvenation, improvement of people's livelihoods, prosperity and construction of a better society" is in sync with our own dream of creating a better and prosperous Pakistan, where people live with hope, dignity and honor.
I am confident that our succeeding generations will take this friendship to newer heights.
The author is the ambassador of Pakistan to China.
(China Daily 05/20/2016 page7)
