Ask anyone in the streets of Pakistan as to which country is Pakistan's best ally, and the unanimous answer would be in the favour of China.
Pakistan was one of the first groups of countries that recognized China on May 21, 1951. Since then, China and Pakistan have witnessed smooth development of friendly and neighbourly relations as well as mutually beneficial cooperation. Although, initially the relations were not very warm due Pakistan's alienation towards West, it was during the Bandung Conference in 1955 that the prime ministers of both countries (Premier Zhou Enlai and Prime Minister M. Ali) decided to further strengthen their relations.
In October 1956, at the invitation of the Chinese Government, Pakistani Prime Minister Suherwardi paid an official visit to China, reciprocated by China the same year when Premier Zhou Enlai visited Pakistan in December. This successful exchange of visits within one year greatly promoted the development of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries and strengthened the friendship between the two peoples. In 1961, by voting for the bill concerning the restoration of China's legitimate rights in the UN put to the vote the UN General Assembly, the Pakistani Government took a step forward in the course of improving the Sino-Pakistani relations. In 1962, the two countries, through friendly talks, reached an agreement in principle on the position and alignment of Sino-Pakistani boundary. In March 1963, the two countries signed a boundary agreement on China's Xinjiang and the adjacent areas whose defence was under the actual control of Pakistan. In February 1964, Premier Zhou Enlai visited Pakistan. The hallmark visit of President Ayub Khan to China in December 1964 opened a new era of friendship and long term partnership between the two countries. President Ayub was so warmly received by the Chinese that people still remember that warmth even today. In March 1966, President Liu Shaoqi visited Pakistan. These two visits paved way for an everlasting friendship between these two great countries, which remains as strong and time tested even today. China fully supported Pakistan against India on Kashmir issue and backed Pakistan morally, militarily and economically whenever Pakistan called for help. Pakistan also played an important part in breaking the thaw in Sino-US relations in 1971 when President Nixon went to China through Pakistan. Since 1990s, great changes have taken place in the international situation. Instead of being affected by the changing situation, the time-tested friendship and cooperation between China and Pakistan has further developed. China provided all manner of diplomatic and political support, including accepting Pakistans position of plebiscite over Kashmir. In April 1971 Zhou Enlai expressed steadfast commitment to Pakistans territorial integrity and expressed the view that the situation in East Pakistan was an internal matter for Pakistan. 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Pakistani diplomatic relations and colourful celebrations were held in the two countries.
Since the early 1950, China and Pakistan have established trade relations. In January 1963, they signed their first trade agreement. In October 1982, China-Pakistan Joint Committee of Economy, Trade and Technology was set up. With the joint efforts from both sides, Sino-Pakistani economic and trade cooperation has seen good progress. Especially since the 1990s, their bilateral trade volume has witnessed relatively fast growth. In 2002 alone, Sino-Pakistani trade volume reached US$ 1.8 billion, a new record in terms of their trade relations. China is the major contributor of defence equipment to Pakistan. The recent joint venture of JF-17 Thunder multi-role jet aircraft has further cemented the ties between the two countries. Recently, the Chinese President paid a four days official visit to Pakistan (23-26 November 2006), in which China and Pakistan signed 18 MOUs/agreements, including a five-year pact of economic cooperation, agreement for free trade, provision of AWAC aircraft, sponsoring establishment of a complex which will manufacture defence related electronics. The Chinese president was accorded very warm welcome both at Islamabad and Lahore airports - which reflects strong friendly ties between the two great countries and the love that Pakistani people have for their Chinese brthern.
This handout picture shows Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf (2L) and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi (L) standinga with a Chinese delegation lead by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (2R) for official photographs after a meeting in Rawalpindi on April 26, 2008. Pakistan will purchase equipment from China to fight terrorist activity, Foreign Minister Qureshi said. China is one of the closest allies and largest arms supplier of Pakistan,
People hold flags of China and Pakistan during the Olympic torch ceremony in Islamabad April 16, 2008.
Pakistani airforce crew adjust boxes of medical aid in a plane, to be sent to the victims of China's worst earthquake in a generation in the Chinese province fo Gansu, at Chaklala airbase in Rawalpindi on May 27, 2008. Pakistan sent medical aid including medicine, doctors and relief goods to its close ally China to shelter survivors of the country's worst earthquake in a generation.
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, center with glasses, and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, second from right, hand over the Olympic torch to first runner Pakistani former field hockey player Sami Ullah, left, during a ceremony in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, April 16, 2008.
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf salutes a guard of honor during a welcome ceremony with Chinese President Hu Jintao, left, in Sanya, southern China's Hainan province, Friday, April 11, 2008.
In this photo released by the Pakistan Air Force, a JF-17 thunder fighter aircraft, jointly built by Pakistan and China, lands at a Pakistani Air Force base in Kamra near Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday, March 14, 2008.
Pakistan's Air Force has recently received six JF-17 thunder fighter aircrafts from China. The JF-17 Thunder aircraft is an advanced multi role light combat aircraft jointly invested and developed by China and Pakistan. It is a key collaborative strategic project between the two countries in the military field, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Pakistan Air Force.