Pakistan and China formally established diplomatic relations on May 21, 1951. The foundation, however, had been laid earlier, when Pakistan became the first Islamic country and the third non-communist country to officially recognise the People’s Republic of China on January 4, 1950, shortly after its founding on October 1, 1949.

Pakistan’s first official delegation visited Beijing in January 1950, paving the way for embassy exchanges and the establishment of formal ties the following year. In 1956, Pakistan’s prime minister, Hussein Shaheed Suharawardy, and Chinese premier Zhou Enlai signed the Treaty of Friendship between the two countries. Over the decades, that treaty has developed appreciably and welcomely into an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

Pakistan and China today share a relationship frequently described as an “Iron Brotherhood”. Anchored by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), this partnership is defined by deep bilateral trade, joint defence production, strategic coordination and mutual diplomatic support on important issues, including Kashmir and Taiwan. There is much to discuss about the ever-progressing friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, but for want of space, these may be dilated upon some other time.

May 2026 was an important month for Pakistan nationally, regionally and internationally, as several significant developments took place during it. Across the country, the civil,........

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