Pakistan is the only all-weather partner of China and the bilateral relationship which is based on similar strategic and security interests is a model to follow, an article in a state-run Chinese daily said today.
Highlighting China's close support to Islamabad, the article in the Global Times made a rare mention of the Chinese veto against Bangladesh joining the UN in 1972 after the liberation war against Pakistan.
"In 1972, the People's Republic of China used its veto power for the first time to support Pakistan at the UN Security Council by refusing to admit Bangladesh, the former East Pakistan, to the UN," said the article titled 'Pakistan remains faithful partner of China'.
It said that after 1989, every time when China was blamed by the US and other western countries at the UN Commission on Human Rights, "Pakistan was always the first one to stand up and speak for China."
China vetoed Bangladesh's application for UN membership in 1972 soon after the liberation war by which time Dhaka's status as independent country was recognised by India, then Soviet Union and a host of other countries.
While Pakistan recognised the breakaway east Pakistan in 1974 China formally extended the recognition in 1975.
The rare mention of Chinese veto on Bangladesh joining UN in the Chinese official media is aimed at showcasing decades' old close ties between the two countries which this year was firmed up with USD 46 billion economic corridor project connecting both the countries through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Written by an academic of the state-run Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, the article said Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit this year to Pakistan, during which the corridor project was launched, elevated the bilateral ties to "all-weather strategic cooperation partners."
"China has established partnerships with a lot of countries in the world, but Pakistan is the only one that is called an all-weather strategic cooperation partner," the article said.
"For countries with different social systems and ideologies that want to collaborate with each other, the China-Pakistan relationship has become a model to follow. This type of relationship is not based on common values and systems, but on same or similar strategic and security interests," it said, adding that some new concerns like global terrorism and maritime security have arisen for both sides.
On Afghan issues, it said that China values Pakistan's unique role.
The article in the daily also said that Pakistan always
gives China full support on the Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, and South China Sea issues.
"China is also a strong supporter of the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity of Pakistan," it said.
"As a stronger peer, China should pay more attention to Pakistan's interest in international and regional affairs. As Pakistan makes progress in its economic development, China should support Pakistan becoming a member of APEC(Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) and RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership)."
However, it said that people-to-people exchanges are the missing part in the foundation of China-Pakistan cooperation in international affairs.
"Our Pakistani friends enjoy a lot of advantages when contacting Islamic countries, so Pakistan could act as a bridge between China and Islamic countries for further cooperation and collaboration, especially in the process of building "One Belt, One Road" and realising the Asian community of shared destiny," it said.
