A grand and vibrant ceremony was held at the historical Mohatta Palace on Friday evening to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, as national leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the enduring all-weather strategic partnership between the two countries.
Hosted by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the diamond jubilee event brought together diplomats, senior government officials, business leaders, Chinese investors, members of the armed forces, civil society representatives, and figures from the banking and industrial sectors to celebrate a friendship widely described as one founded on mutual trust, strategic cooperation, and shared prosperity.
First Lady of Pakistan Aseefa Bhutto Zardari also attended the ceremony as a special guest.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the Pakistan-China friendship had evolved into a lasting symbol of regional peace, economic cooperation, and strategic stability.
He described Pakistan and China as “iron brothers” whose friendship had successfully withstood every test of time.
Bilawal said the PPP had always played a historic role in strengthening ties with China and remained fully committed to taking the bilateral partnership to new heights.
Paying tribute to PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he said the late leader had laid the foundations of modern Pakistan-China relations through visionary diplomacy and strategic foresight. He added that Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari further deepened bilateral cooperation in economic development and regional connectivity.
Bilawal remarked that the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor had transformed Pakistan’s economic landscape and would continue creating new opportunities in industrialisation, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and employment generation.
He said CPEC 2.0 would usher in a new era of industrial cooperation, special economic zones, innovation, and regional connectivity, adding that Sindh — particularly Karachi — would continue to hold central importance in future Pakistan-China economic cooperation.
Speaking on the occasion, the Sindh CM said the 75-year diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and China had emerged as one of the strongest and most reliable partnerships in modern international relations.
“Tonight, we are not merely celebrating a diplomatic milestone, but honouring an everlasting friendship built upon sincerity, mutual respect, and unwavering support for one another,” he remarked.
The CM paid tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for laying the foundations of Pakistan-China friendship and said the PPP had consistently strengthened bilateral relations during every period of its government.
Shah stated that Sindh was uniquely positioned to play an even greater role in expanding Pakistan-China cooperation in trade, industry, infrastructure, renewable energy, technology, and investment.
He noted that Chinese institutions were already contributing significantly to Sindh’s development and welcomed greater collaboration in transport, industrialisation, ports, agriculture, technology, and clean energy sectors.
The CM further observed that Pakistan-China relations had also proved vital for regional peace, national security, and strategic stability.
“Our cooperation in technology, defence, connectivity, and economic development will continue contributing towards peace and prosperity across the region,” he added.
In a special video message played during the ceremony, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan described Pakistan and China as “all-weather strategic cooperative partners” and said the friendship between the two countries had transformed into an “iron brotherhood” over the past 75 years.
The ambassador stated that the CPEC had brought large-scale investment into Pakistan and created employment opportunities for millions of people. He added that under CPEC 2.0, new industrial zones and factories would be established to further deepen economic cooperation.
Describing Sindh as Pakistan’s most important province in terms of population and economic activity, the envoy said the province held unique importance in promoting practical cooperation between Pakistan and China.
He noted that Sindh would greatly benefit from the high-quality development projects envisioned under CPEC 2.0, particularly in infrastructure, industrialisation, trade, and investment.
The ambassador also held out the assurance that both the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad and the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi would continue maintaining close engagement with Sindh to strengthen cooperation between local institutions, businesses, and industries in both countries.
Calling the dinner reception at the Mohatta Palace a historic symbol of Pakistan-China friendship, the envoy expressed confidence that bilateral relations would continue growing stronger and generate new opportunities for progress and prosperity.
The ceremony concluded with cultural performances and expressions of solidarity, celebrating the enduring friendship between the peoples of Pakistan and China.
