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BEIJING, Jan 9 (APP):Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that over the past 75 years, Pakistan and China have firmly upheld a tradition of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation, and that despite changing global circumstances, the “iron-clad friendship” between the two countries has continued to deepen.
In a recent interview with People’s Daily Online, he noted that 2026 will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
Ishaq Dar said that the two countries have always strongly supported each other on core interests and major issues, while steadily implementing the important consensus reached by the leadership of both sides through close cooperation in areas including the economy and industrial development.
He added that in the new era, efforts are being accelerated to build a China–Pakistan community with a shared future.
According to Ishaq Dar, the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is entering a new phase of high-quality development, and both sides are placing special emphasis on building a “corridor of people’s well-being.”
He said that agriculture is one of the cornerstone industries of Pakistan’s economy, and in recent years companies from both countries have achieved positive results through cooperation in crops such as chili peppers, rapeseed (mustard/canola), and sesame. Meanwhile, many Pakistani agricultural products have gained access to the Chinese market.
He noted that these developments are significant for enabling Pakistani farmers to integrate into regional value chains and increase their incomes.
He further explained that in 2025, Pakistan launched a training program for 1,000 agricultural experts in China, under which two batches were sent to China to understand its experience in agricultural innovation and systematically learn modern agricultural skills.
Ishaq Dar said that in the next phase, both countries hope to further deepen cooperation across the entire agricultural value chain under the CPEC framework, which will help transform and upgrade Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
Ishaq Dar said that close cooperation between Pakistan and China in industry and technology is delivering direct benefits to the Pakistani people.
He noted that Chinese solar photovoltaic equipment, electric vehicles, and electric motorcycles have entered the Pakistani market, making daily life and work more convenient for the public.
He added that Chinese companies have also established manufacturing units in Pakistan, creating opportunities for industrial upgrading. According to him, in areas where infrastructure is weak and energy costs are high, China’s new energy technologies are generating new hope for public welfare.
Speaking about cooperation in the space sector, he said that Pakistan and China have jointly launched nine satellites to date, covering areas such as communications, earth observation, remote sensing, and lunar missions. He added that it is expected that a Pakistani astronaut will visit the Chinese space station this year. One success after another in China–Pakistan space cooperation reflects a “trustworthy, reliable, and enduring partnership” between the two countries in the space domain.
Ishaq Dar said that China’s prospects for economic development are vast. In 2026, China will begin its 15th Five-Year Plan, and its high-quality development and high-level opening-up are attracting global attention.
He said Pakistan is eager to further strengthen cooperation with China and learn from China’s experience in modernization.
Commenting on the global situation, the Deputy Prime Minister said that amid a complex and rapidly changing international environment, the four initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping have received broad recognition from the international community.
He said these initiatives offer far-sighted solutions to the major challenges facing the world today and are important for regional and global stability, long-term development, and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
He pointed out that in September 2025, the two countries issued the Action Plan for Building a China–Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era (2025–2029), and that both sides will further strengthen practical cooperation under this framework.
He said that Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, and that Pakistan has always provided unwavering support to China on issues related to its core interests.
He stated that Pakistan’s position is clear: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and Pakistan will firmly adhere to the One-China policy.
He added that countries in the region should oppose all forms of interference in each other’s internal affairs and refrain from actions that escalate tensions or undermine mutual trust. According to him, promoting dialogue and cooperation, prioritizing development, and fostering a stable environment are essential for regional peace and stability, and will provide a solid foundation for lasting peace, shared development, and common prosperity in Asia and the world.