Pakistan and China Mark 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations

Pakistan and China celebrated the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations on May 21, 2026, reaffirming an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. To mark the milestone, Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari hosted a high-level Chinese delegation led by Cai Dafeng in Islamabad. The celebrations featured the unveiling of a commemorative postage stamp and a 75-rupee coin, alongside resolutions passed by both the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan reaffirming the One-China policy.

A central element of the anniversary is the official transition to "CPEC 2.0." This upgraded phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor shifts focus from primary infrastructure toward industrialization, agricultural modernization, information technology, green development, and artificial intelligence. Recent collaborations also include the training of 1,000 Pakistani agricultural professionals in China and the launch of a remote sensing satellite from Xichang.

Beyond economics, the two nations are coordinating on regional security, specifically advocating for peace talks in the Middle East regarding conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Following these commemorative events, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar are scheduled to visit China from May 23 to 26 to meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to further solidify strategic and political ties.