Friendship, trust evident in seven decades of exchanges and cooperation between China and Pakistan

In collaboration with Chinese companies, green power projects are in different stages of planning as part of a broader energy strategy.

During the past seven decades, various Pakistani and Chinese organizations played their vital role in strengthening what has become an exemplary friendship. The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, established by visionary leader and China's first premier Zhou Enlai in 1954, is a national people's organization engaged in people-to-people diplomacy. Presently, CPAFFC has set up 46 national friendship organizations and established friendly cooperation with more than 410 nongovernment organizations and institutions in 157 countries and regions.

CPAFFC and the Pakistan-China Friendship Association in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was established in 1970, enjoy very cordial relations and have had the honor of hosting their respective presidents and vice-presidents. CPAFFC also plays a vital role in developing sister-city relationships between the two countries since 1951, such as Karachi-Shanghai, Lahore-Xi’an, Islamabad-Beijing, Peshawar-Urumqi and Abbottabad-Kashgar, a list lengthening with the passage of time. These sister cities can further exchanges in fields including education, commerce and industrial development.

The past decade is considered important for China-Pakistan friendship as there have been adequate people-to-people contact and increasing links between the corresponding defense sectors, while industries in both countries have increased manifold throughout this period.

Another area that China would like to help Pakistan with is healthy freedom of expression in the media. China Radio International began providing Urdu services in 1955, and has since increased the number of its listeners across South Asia. As part of the newly established China Media Group, CRI now plays a leading role in developing people-to-people understanding across regions.

This historic achievement of 70 years of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations gives us a higher sense of pride and greater hope for the future strength of diplomatic, economic, cultural and political ties between the two countries. We in Pakistan are always there to join hands with our Chinese friends through cultural exchanges and people-to-people cooperation.

The author is an expert on Chinese affairs and secretary-general of the Pakistan-China Friendship Association in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Email: syeed.gilani@gmail.com The views do not necessarily represent those of China Daily.