Islamabad, April 21 – Marking the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s landmark state visit to Pakistan, diplomats, government officials, and thought leaders gathered in Islamabad to reaffirm the strength of the China-Pakistan relationship and outline a vision for the future under the theme “Jointly Building the China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future.”
The program began with the national anthems of China and Pakistan, followed by an introduction by H.E. Mr. Shi Yuanqiang, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, who served as the event moderator. The symposium featured keynote speeches by Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, along with remarks from prominent figures including Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute, Mr. Faisal Zahid Malik, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer, and H.E. Ms. Naghmana Alamgir Hashmi, former Ambassador to China.
In his address, Ambassador Jiang reflected on President Xi’s historic 28-hour visit in 2015 that elevated bilateral ties to an “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” and launched the transformative China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). “Over the past decade, our cooperation has become more resilient, comprehensive, and forward-looking,” the Ambassador said. He highlighted political trust, economic collaboration, security cooperation, and cultural exchange as the four pillars that have anchored the bilateral relationship through global uncertainties.
Ambassador Jiang also outlined five priorities to guide the next phase of collaboration: enhancing strategic mutual trust, deepening integration through CPEC and emerging sectors, strengthening security cooperation, expanding people-to-people exchanges, and consolidating international collaboration in pursuit of multipolar, just global governance.
Echoing these sentiments, Mr. Faisal Zahid Malik emphasized that the China-Pakistan friendship is not merely diplomatic—it is personal, generational, and deeply rooted in shared values. “This relationship is of special significance to my family,” he said, recounting the legacy of his late father, Mr. Zahid Malik, founder of Pakistan Observer, who championed bilateral friendship long before CPEC became a reality.
Mr. Faisal Malik also celebrated the contribution of his son, Mr. Saud Faisal Malik, who launched The Daily CPEC, the first and only platform dedicated entirely to covering developments under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Addressing current and future challenges, Malik called for deeper economic integration through industrial development, innovation, and youth engagement, while also stressing the importance of people-to-people ties and media narratives. “We must counter misperceptions and showcase this partnership as a force for regional stability and prosperity,” he said.
The event concluded with a lively open discussion and a reaffirmation of the commitment to build an “even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.” With the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations approaching in 2026, both sides expressed confidence in their continued collaboration across all domains, from policy and development to security and culture.
As participants departed, the message was clear: in an increasingly divided world, the China-Pakistan partnership stands as a beacon of unity, mutual respect, and shared destiny.
Related Posts
