(Redirected from Sino-Pakistan relations)

Chinese Special Forces training alongside
Pakistani SSG Special Forces during the 2006 Friendship Exercise. Pakistan and China enjoy strong military ties.
'Sino-Pakistani relations' began in
1950 when
Pakistan was among the first countries to break relations with the
Republic of China on
Taiwan and recognize the
People's Republic of China. Following the Sino-Indian hostilities of 1962, Pakistan's relations with the PRC became stronger; since then, the two countries have regularly exchanged high-level visits resulting in a variety of agreements. The PRC has provided
economic,
military, and technical assistance to Pakistan. The alliance remains strong.
Favorable relations with
China have been a pillar of
Pakistan's foreign policy. China strongly supported Pakistan's opposition to
Soviet involvement in
Afghanistan and was perceived by Pakistan as a regional counterweight to
India and the
USSR. The PRC and Pakistan also share a close military relation, with China supplying a range of modern armaments to the Pakistani defence forces. Lately, military cooperation has deepened with joint projects producing armaments ranging from fighter jets to guided missile frigates. Chinese cooperation with Pakistan has reached high economic points with substantial investment from China in Pakistani infrastructural expansion, including the noted project in the Pakistani port in Gwadar.
Events
Chinese President
Hu Jintao, making the first visit to
Pakistan by a Chinese president in a decade, promised to bolster his country's ties with its old ally to a new level.
Following are some of the important events in relations between the neighbors.
1950 -
Pakistan becomes third non-
communist country, and first Muslim one, to recognize
China.
1951 -
Beijing and
Karachi establish
diplomatic relations.
1962 -
Peoples Republic of China and
Republic of India fight border war, providing new opportunities for
Pakistan's relations with
China.
1963 -
China and
Pakistan reach first formal
trade agreement.
1963 -
China and Pakistan reach border agreement.
1965 -
China supports Pakistan diplomatically in war with
India, as it does again in
1971 against
Bangladesh.
1965 - In response to war with
India, U.S. cuts military support to
Pakistan.
China soon becomes Pakistan's principal arms supplier.
1970 - Pakistan helps U.S. make contacts with
China that result in visit to China by then U.S. National Security Adviser
Henry Kissinger in
1971.
1978 -
Karakoram Highway linking mountainous
Northern Pakistan with
Western China officially opens.
1980s -
China and U.S. supply help through
Pakistan to
Afghan guerrillas fighting
Soviet occupation forces.
1986 - China and Pakistan reach comprehensive nuclear
cooperation agreement.
1996 - Chinese President
Jiang Zemin pays state visit to
Pakistan.
1999 - A 300-megawatt nuclear power plant, built with Chinese help in
Punjab province, is completed.
China is helping to build a second 300-megawatt nuclear plant due to be finished by 2010.
2002 - Chinese Vice Premier Wu Banggu attends ground-breaking ceremony for Pakistan's
Gwadar deep-sea port. China provides $198 million for $248 million joint project.
See also
★
Sino-Indian War
Links
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CHRONOLOGY-Main events in Chinese-Pakistani relations---REUTERS