From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
[edit] 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 Bangguo attends ground-breaking ceremony for Pakistan's Gwadar deep-sea port. China provides $198 million for $248 million joint project.
- 2007 - Sino-Pakistani joint-ventured multirole fighter aircraft - JF-17 Thunder (FC-1 Fierce Dragon) is formally rolled out. 2008, Pakistan starts mass production of the aircraft.
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