Karachi Marks 75 Years of China-Pakistan Diplomatic Ties

Syed Tabish

Karachi: An awards ceremony for a logo design competition commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China was held in Karachi, celebrating the enduring partnership between the two countries.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Liaison Office Karachi under the leadership of Director General Irfan Soomro. It recognised creative contributions reflecting the historical and cultural depth of China-Pakistan relations.

Among the award recipients was third-prize winner Ms Nayab Zahra, whose design illustrated the symbolism and shared heritage underpinning the bilateral friendship.

Diplomatic Participation

The ceremony was attended by Yang Yundong, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Karachi, who served as chief guest and distributed prizes and commemorative gifts to winners.

Diplomats from Malaysia and Indonesia were also present, along with Deputy Director General Sadia Gohar Khanum and other officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

75 Years of Strategic Partnership

In his address, Consul General Yang highlighted the historic evolution of bilateral ties since diplomatic relations were established 75 years ago. He described the relationship as an “unbreakable all-weather strategic cooperative partnership,” strengthened through decades of political trust and mutual support.

He noted that foundational leadership in the 1960s and 1970s by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai laid the cornerstone of bilateral cooperation. Subsequent leaders, including Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari, continued to prioritise relations with China as central to Pakistan’s foreign policy.

The envoy reiterated the widely cited description of the friendship in Pakistan as “higher than mountains, deeper than the sea, and sweeter than honey,” while noting that in China, Pakistanis are affectionately referred to as “Batie,” meaning iron brothers.

CPEC and Future Cooperation

Highlighting economic collaboration, Yang referred to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. He said CPEC has transitioned into an upgraded second phase, with future cooperation focusing on industry, agriculture and mining to deliver broader benefits to local communities.

He also underscored the importance of people-to-people exchanges, particularly youth engagement, in ensuring that the legacy of bilateral friendship continues across generations.

Last month, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited China and co-chaired the seventh China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Consultation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, formally launching anniversary celebrations.

Looking Ahead

Referring to a Chinese proverb — “Brothers united can break metal” — the Consul General expressed confidence that continued collaboration would further strengthen bilateral ties. With the Chinese New Year of the Horse approaching, he described the timing of the ceremony as symbolically auspicious, signalling resilience and shared prosperity in the years ahead.

The ceremony concluded with a renewed pledge to deepen diplomatic, economic and cultural cooperation as both nations mark 75 years of formal relations.