BEIJING, Jan 9 (Web Desk): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan and China, over the past 75 years, have built a strong tradition of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation, and that despite evolving global circumstances, their “iron-clad friendship” has continued to deepen and expand.
In a recent interview with People’s Daily Online, Ishaq Dar noted that 2026 will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China. He said both countries have consistently supported each other on core interests and major issues, while steadily implementing the important consensus reached by the leadership of the two sides through close cooperation, particularly in the economy and industrial development.
He said that in the new era, both countries are accelerating efforts to build a China–Pakistan community with a shared future, adding that the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor is entering a new phase of high-quality development. According to him, special emphasis is being placed on developing a “corridor of people’s well-being” to ensure tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.
Highlighting agricultural cooperation, Ishaq Dar said agriculture remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, and in recent years, companies from both countries have achieved encouraging results through collaboration in crops such as chili peppers, rapeseed (canola), and sesame. He added that many Pakistani agricultural products have successfully gained access to the Chinese market, a development that is helping Pakistani farmers integrate into regional value chains and increase their incomes.
He further said that in 2025, Pakistan launched a program to train 1,000 agricultural experts in China. Under this initiative, two batches of Pakistani professionals were sent to China to study agricultural innovation and systematically learn modern farming techniques. In the next phase, he said, both sides aim to deepen cooperation across the entire agricultural value chain under the CPEC framework, supporting the transformation and upgrading of Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
Speaking on industrial and technological cooperation, the deputy prime minister said close Pakistan–China collaboration 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. He added that Chinese companies have also set up manufacturing units in Pakistan, contributing to industrial upgrading and job creation. In regions facing weak infrastructure and high energy costs, he said, China’s new energy technologies are bringing renewed hope for public welfare.
On space cooperation, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan and China have jointly launched nine satellites so far, covering communications, earth observation, remote sensing, and lunar missions. He added that a Pakistani astronaut is expected to visit the Chinese space station this year, describing these achievements as a reflection of a “trustworthy, reliable, and enduring partnership” between the two countries in the space domain.
Commenting on China’s development prospects, he said China’s economic future remains vast and promising. He noted that China will begin its 15th Five-Year Plan in 2026, and that its high-quality development and high-level opening-up are drawing global attention. Pakistan, he said, is keen to further strengthen cooperation with China and learn from its experience in modernization.
On global and regional issues, Ishaq Dar said that amid a complex and rapidly changing international environment, the four global initiatives proposed by Xi Jinping have gained broad international recognition. He said these initiatives offer forward-looking solutions to major global challenges and are important for regional and global stability, long-term development, and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
He recalled that in September 2025, Pakistan and China issued the Action Plan for Building a China–Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era (2025–2029), under which both sides will further strengthen practical cooperation.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s principled stance, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and that Pakistan has always provided firm support to China on issues related to its core interests. He reiterated that Pakistan’s position is clear: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and Pakistan will continue to adhere firmly 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 avoid actions that escalate tensions or undermine mutual trust. Promoting dialogue and cooperation, prioritizing development, and fostering a stable environment, he said, are essential for regional peace and stability, and will lay a solid foundation for lasting peace, shared development, and common prosperity in Asia and the world.