4. Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China
(1) China-Pakistan relations in history
China and Pakistan are both ancient civilizations and friendly neighbors that depend on mountains and waters. The two peoples have a long tradition of friendship and a history of friendly exchanges of more than two thousand years or more.
Since the Western Han Dynasty, the peoples of the two countries have had extensive and direct exchanges and cooperation in many aspects such as religion, politics, economy, philosophy, science and technology, and literature and art. The "Silk Road" in ancient China reached the South Asian subcontinent through Central Asia, and became a main channel for economic exchanges between China and Pakistan through the Northwest at that time. With the development of science and technology and nautical technology, cultural and economic exchanges between China's southeastern coastal area and the east coast of Pakistan through sea routes have also developed, and are called the "Marine Silk Road". In the 2000-year history of Sino-Pakistani cultural exchanges, the economic and trade exchanges between the two countries have become an important part of this cultural exchange, and have also played an important role in promoting the social and economic development of the two countries.
In addition to the two Silk Roads mentioned above, the Southwest Silk Road is also very important for connecting China and Pakistan.
During this period, China and Pakistan were far away from each other, and there was no conflict of actual interests. In general, the relationship is friendly and emotionally intimate.
China-Pakistan border
During the Bandung Conference in April 1955, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai met with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Ali
On March 4, 1965, Mao Zedong met with President Mohamed Ayub Khan of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Zhou Enlai Street
In April 2015, President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan. Pakistani President Hussein and Prime Minister Sharif held a grand welcome ceremony for President Xi Jinping
On April 21, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech in the Pakistani Parliament entitled "Building a Community of Destiny for China and Pakistan and Opening a New Journey for Cooperation and Win-Win"
During the Bandung Conference in April 1955, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai met with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Ali
On March 4, 1965, Mao Zedong met with President Mohamed Ayub Khan of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Zhou Enlai Street
In April 2015, President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan. Pakistani President Hussein and Prime Minister Sharif held a grand welcome ceremony for President Xi Jinping
On April 21, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech in the Pakistani Parliament entitled "Building a Community of Destiny for China and Pakistan and Opening a New Journey for Cooperation and Win-Win"
(2) The diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China after the establishment of new China
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan in 1951, the relationship between the two countries has gone through a tortuous process, from opposition to lingering, to friendly cooperation and in-depth exchanges.
As one of the countries with relatively close and stable relations with China, Pakistan also has the dual status of "religious country" and "old American ally". From the tension and opposition in the bipolar pattern to the close cooperation in the new century, China-Pakistan relations are constantly being explored, developed, and consolidated under the traction of national interests and friendship. Pakistan is one of the South Asian countries that established diplomatic relations with China earlier. The development of relations between the two countries has become increasingly intimate after a period of friction and exploration. Looking back on the diplomatic history of China and Pakistan, we can find that the development of relations between the two countries can be roughly divided into the following three stages.
1. From 1947 to the early 1950s: China-Pakistan's respective alliance relationship made the relationship cold
After Pakistan's independence, compared with India, it is obviously at a disadvantage in terms of land area, military strength and other aspects. Therefore, it is even more necessary to use external forces to strengthen its own security. As a result, Pakistan set its sights on the Western power, the United States. At the same time, the United States, which is in a bipolar pattern, also needs to seek strategic partners to contain the Soviet Union and China. Therefore, after maintaining a short diplomatic neutrality, Pakistan joined the two military alliances of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization and the Central Treaty Organization led by the United States.
The alliance between Pakistan and the United States has been influenced by the United States. Pakistan's attitude towards China has once become tougher, and it has restricted the exchanges between the two peoples.
Despite this, Pakistan realized in the first defeat of India and Pakistan in the battle for Kashmir in October 1947: "Improving relations with China will undoubtedly focus Pakistan on concentrating on its main rival, India." The relaxation of relations with China.
2. Early 1950s-early 1960s: the wandering and contradiction of Sino-Pakistani relations
At this stage, Pakistan 's relaxation from China to hesitation was mainly caused by Pakistan' s desire for the protection of its territorial interests and its diplomatic restrictions on the United States.
On the one hand, after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, the economy first developed rapidly: China became the second largest buyer of Pakistani cotton in 1951, and jumped to the top in 1952. In March 1953, China and Pakistan signed a trade agreement on cotton and coal, which is an important measure for China and Pakistan to build trust and improve relations. Economic ties have gradually paved the way for diplomacy, and the exchange of visits between Chinese and Pakistani leaders in 1956 pushed forward bilateral relations .
On the other hand, Pakistan has not given up following the United States. From 1953 to 1960, Palestine opposed China's membership of the United Nations for eight years, and also echoed the United States on China's Taiwan and Tibet issues. Moreover, the early establishment of the US-Pakistan alliance still poses a certain threat to China ’s own security. Therefore, although Pakistan wants to seek help from neighboring countries on the Kashmir issue, considering the influence of the United States, China-Pakistan relations have not made much progress. In the 1959 rebellion in Tibet, Pakistan even advocated "Indo-Pakistani joint defense" to contend with China. Naturally, bilateral relations fell to the bottom.
3. Since the beginning of the 1960s, China-Pakistan relations have established strong friendship after undergoing tests
In the decades after the alliance between Pakistan and the United States, the Second India-Pakistan War made India a new chess piece of the United States in the strategic position of South Asia. Since then, the United States has gradually paid less attention to Pakistan than India. This "reprint of light bus" policy is particularly noticeable in the US economic and military assistance to India and Pakistan. The United States and Pakistan have serious differences in the amount of aid, and Pakistan has serious doubts about the US-India relations. All these fully reflect Pakistan's serious distrust of the United States. And US aid to India has made Pakistan 's fear of India' s armed forces even more obvious.Under such circumstances, Pakistan has to consider seeking support from other major powers, especially China, which has always been lukewarm with Pakistan. In addition, the Sino-Indian border war in October 1962 gave China-Pakistan relations another opportunity for improvement. In 1963 , Pakistan and China signed the "Sino-Pakistani Boundary Agreement", and Pakistan became a country that established direct routes with China instead of communism.
At the same time, Pakistan believes that the US policy of key aid to India will not change in a considerable period ... Pakistan-US contradictions cannot be resolved, and they will even develop sharply. The rise of US-India relations has made the US policy of "reprinting light buses" more and more obvious. This makes Pakistan think that following the US is not a long-term and wise choice, so it is more eager to improve China-Pakistan relations. When the US-Pakistan relations are constantly estranged, China-Pakistan relations have ushered in the climax of the development of relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Therefore won the trust of Pakistan.
Since then, China-Pakistan relations have continued to develop in a stable direction. Although it was influenced by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S.-made public opinion attempts to differentiate China, Pakistan has faced pressure and supported China with a firm stand. These tests have made China-Pakistan relations more intimate. With firmness. With the reform and opening up and the development of the times, the bipolar pattern has evolved into a multi-polar development, and the issues involved in China-Pakistan exchanges have become more and more complicated and numerous. Although the two countries have established a profound friendship, there are still many problems that have been caused due to differences in ideology, international relations, and other positions. In particular, national division and terrorism are countries that today have to worry about. Security risks. Although it cannot be completely eradicated in a short period of time, as the exchanges between China and Pakistan deepen, the friendship between the two countries will become deeper and deeper.
(3) Diplomatic relations with China since the 21st century
Since the 21st century, China-Pakistan relations have been increasingly strengthened. In international affairs, the two sides support each other and cooperate actively, which has become an important factor in maintaining peace and stability in the Asian region. The two countries have all-weather traditional friendship and all-round cooperative relations. Mutually beneficial cooperative relations in various fields continue to develop. President Hu Jintao evaluated the two countries as "good neighbors, good friends, good partners, and good brothers." In 2004, the "Zhou Enlai Avenue" was built in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.
In December 2010, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Premier Wen Jiabao paid an official visit to Pakistan and jointly announced 2011 as the "China-Pakistan Friendship Year" with the Pakistani Prime Minister. The two countries held a series of commemorative and celebration activities to further The traditional friendship and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries have been consolidated and deepened. In June 2012, President Zardari came to China to attend the SCO leaders' meeting. In May 2013, Premier Li Keqiang paid a state visit to Pakistan, and the two countries issued a joint statement on deepening their comprehensive strategic cooperation. In July 2013 and February 2014, Pakistan ’s new Prime Minister Sharif and Pakistan ’s new President Mammun Hussein visited China respectively. In April 2014, Prime Minister Sharif came to China to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2014. In May 2014, President Hussein came to China to attend the AsiaInfo Summit.
In April 2015, President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan to promote China-Pakistan relations to an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. The term “all weather” means that China-Pakistan relations will not be affected by the alternation of domestic power and changes in the surrounding environment. This is unique in China ’s bilateral relations.
In December 2015, Pakistani President Hussain came to China to attend the Second World Internet Conference, and Prime Minister Sharif came to China to attend the 14th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states.
Among South Asian countries, Pakistan is the first country to recognize China's market economy status and the first country to establish a free trade zone with China.
