ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT): Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States and China, and former Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Sardar Masood Khan on Nonday said that Pakistan and China have built an extraordinary relationship over the past seventy-five years that has emerged as one of the strongest and most resilient bilateral partnerships in the world.
Speaking in a television interview on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, Ambassador Masood Khan stated that the relationship between the two countries had evolved from strategic cooperation during the Cold War into a comprehensive partnership encompassing diplomacy, trade, defence, technology, connectivity, and regional stability.
He remarked that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China carries immense significance because it focuses on three key dimensions: strengthening strategic and economic cooperation, commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and consulting on rapidly evolving regional developments, particularly the tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Ambassador Masood Khan noted that meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang would further elevate bilateral cooperation and inject greater momentum into economic and technological collaboration under CPEC 2.0. He explained that while the initial phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor concentrated on infrastructure, energy, roads, and telecommunications, the new phase emphasizes digital transformation, artificial intelligence, industrial partnerships, agriculture, advanced technologies, and space cooperation.
Highlighting the transformation in bilateral engagement, he observed that cooperation between Pakistan and China is no longer limited to governments and state-owned enterprises, but increasingly includes business-to-business collaboration, technology partnerships, startups, and private sector investment.
He stated that Pakistan remains the flagship partner of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing connectivity between East Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia. According to him, this interconnected regional framework would not only support economic growth but also strengthen regional peace and stability.
Ambassador Masood Khan further underscored the growing collaboration between the two countries in defence production, aerospace, satellite technology, digital trade, e-commerce, and innovation. He recalled that Pakistan was among the first countries to utilize China’s advanced BeiDou navigation system and highlighted the aspiration of seeing Pakistani astronauts participate in future Chinese space missions.
Discussing regional and international affairs, he emphasized that Pakistan and China strongly support a rule-based international order grounded in the principles of the United Nations Charter, multilateralism, dialogue, and peaceful resolution of disputes. He reiterated that both countries oppose unilateralism and believe in regional cooperation, economic connectivity, and shared prosperity for developing nations.
Ambassador Masood Khan concluded by stating that Pakistan-China friendship remains “higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey, and stronger than steel,” adding that the enduring partnership continues to serve as a model of trust, solidarity, and strategic cooperation for the international community.
