LAHORE: The Consul General of China in Lahore, Sun Yan, on Thursday underscored the enduring strength of China-Pakistan relations describing them as an “All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” rooted in mutual trust shared development and unwavering support through decades.
Addressing a certificate distribution ceremony for officers of the 53rd Common Training Programme at the Civil Services Academy, Walton campus, the envoy congratulated the probationers on completing their training, particularly the Chinese language course, and lauded their role as future custodians of bilateral ties.
Sun noted that 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, recalling that Pakistan was the first Islamic country to establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China. Over the decades, he said, the two nations had stood by each other in moments of both challenge and opportunity.
He highlighted Pakistan’s consistent support to China in key historical phases, including efforts to break external isolation and restore China’s lawful seat at the United Nations, as well as during China’s reform and opening-up era. In return, he said, China had firmly backed Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
On economic cooperation, Sun said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor had brought over $25 billion in direct investment to Pakistan, contributing significantly to infrastructure and energy development. He noted that CPEC projects had added 510 kilometres of highways, generated 8,200 megawatts of electricity, and laid 886 kilometres of key transmission lines.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General of the Civil Services Academy, Farhan Aziz Khawaja, appreciated the role of the Chinese consul general in promoting language learning among probationers and emphasised the growing importance of China in the global landscape.
He urged the young officers to harness their expertise, noting that future civil servants of Pakistan would increasingly engage with their Chinese counterparts, as “this is the Chinese century”.
