China reaffirms strong Pakistan ties amid global turmoil

KARACHI: China has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening ties with Pakistan despite uncertainty and conflicts around the world, with Acting Chinese Consul General in Karachi Feng Deheng describing the two countries as neighbours, trusted friends and partners bound by decades of cooperation.

“Whatever happens in the world, we will strengthen our relations with Pakistan,” Feng said while addressing a reception in Karachi marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The event brought together Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, diplomats, political figures, business leaders and representatives from different sectors.

Feng described Pakistan and China as “good neighbours linked by mountains and rivers,” saying their relationship was built on mutual trust, mutual support and shared interests. He said the two countries had maintained high-level political and security cooperation while also coordinating closely on international issues.

The Chinese diplomat highlighted the significance of high-level exchanges during 2026, saying visits by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China had helped provide a roadmap for further strengthening the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

According to Feng, Beijing intends to translate the understanding reached by the leadership of both countries into practical cooperation, strengthen people-to-people contacts and respond to global uncertainty with greater certainty in China-Pakistan relations.

CPEC 2.0 takes centre stage

A major focus of the reception was the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with Feng saying work on an upgraded CPEC 2.0 was being accelerated.

He called for stronger cooperation in agriculture, industry, mining and information technology, while urging both sides to expand exchanges in education, culture, science and technology.

China’s official position has also placed agriculture, industry and mining among the priority areas for CPEC 2.0, signalling a shift toward broader economic and industrial cooperation beyond major infrastructure projects.

Feng said cultural and people-to-people links were also expanding, with Pakistanis from different fields visiting China and contributing to stronger understanding between the two societies.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said CPEC had already contributed to Pakistan’s development through connectivity, energy, industry and infrastructure. He noted that Chinese investment in Sindh was expanding across energy, ports, industry and agriculture.

Shah said the Sindh government wanted greater cooperation in renewable energy and modern urban development and remained committed to providing Chinese investors with a favourable business environment.

Pakistan’s regional role praised

Without directly naming the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, Feng praised Pakistan for playing what he described as a unique mediating role in regional disputes.

He congratulated Pakistan for its diplomatic efforts and said China viewed itself as a force for peace, stability and development in an increasingly uncertain international environment.

Feng said Beijing supported dialogue, consultation and political solutions to regional conflicts, while referring to President Xi Jinping’s four-point proposal concerning the Middle East.

The Chinese diplomat also highlighted China’s own economic transformation, saying the country had moved from a poor and underdeveloped state to the world’s second-largest economy and a major manufacturing and trading power.

He said China had eliminated extreme poverty and developed large-scale education, healthcare and social protection systems, while continuing to invest heavily in science and technology.

Looking toward the next chapter

Feng said 2026 was particularly significant for China as it marked the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the first year of implementation of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan.

He also highlighted advances in artificial intelligence, green energy and emerging technologies, saying China was expanding its role in fields ranging from quantum technology and space exploration to energy, integrated circuits, medicines and humanoid robotics.

For Pakistan and China, however, the central message of the Karachi gathering was the future of their bilateral partnership.

Feng said the two countries should build on their past achievements by accelerating mutually beneficial cooperation and ensuring that economic, technological, cultural and educational links deliver tangible benefits for their peoples.

As Pakistan and China mark 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, the Karachi reception underscored Beijing’s message that changing global circumstances will not diminish its commitment to its longstanding partnership with Islamabad.Headline options: