The military ties between China and Pakistan are considered to be the "backbone" of the relationship between the two countries, a senior Chinese general told Pakistan's visiting army chief, days after a Pakistani minister stirred unease about Chinese Silk Road projects.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa is known as the most senior Pakistani figure to visit its ally, China since the new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan took office in August 2018. Bajwa's trip comes a week or so after a senior Chinese diplomat visited Islamabad.
In the recent years, it has been noted that Pakistan has been deepening its ties with its ally China, as their relationship with the United States frayed. Pakistan stayed in contact with the country.
On the other hand, Bajwa may be hoping to smooth out any false comments that has been given last week by Pakistan's commerce minister, Abdul Razak Dawood.
Dawood, who is now subject to be suspended for a year, made questionable remarks in the projects between China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The Economic Corridor is believed to be Pakistan's way of reviving the old Silk Road trading route.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 Zhang Youxia, a deputy chairman of China's powerful Central Military Commission which President Xi Jinping heads, reiterated to Bajwa that the two countries are "all weather" strategic cooperative partners.
"China-Pakistan military ties are an important backbone of relations between the two countries," said Zhang according to a statement by China's Defence Ministry late on Tuesday.
China's relationship with Pakistan
The relationship between the two countries dates way back in the 1950's when Pakistan was among the first countries to enter into official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (on Taiwan) and recognize the People's Republic of China (PRC) regime on mainland China.
Since then, both countries have placed considerable importance on the maintenance of an extremely close and supportive special relationship. 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, and each country considers the other a close strategic ally.
Chinese cooperation with Pakistan has reached economic high points, with substantial Chinese investment in Pakistani infrastructural expansion, including the Pakistani deep-water port at Gwadar. Both countries have an ongoing free trade agreement.
