Pakistan and China in Multilateral Arenas: Evaluating 75 Years of Evolving Cooperation and Strategic Convergence
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have one of Asia’s long-lasting and most strategically important bilateral alliances. One of the first Asian alliances outside of the socialist bloc was formed in 1951 when Pakistan and China established diplomatic relations. The alliance quickly developed into a coordinated position in international forums after being first formed due to regional insecurity. According to UN General Assembly records from 1961 to 1971, Pakistan continuously backed China’s participation at the UN during the 1960s. Both nations started to agree on non-interference, development rights, and sovereignty following the adoption of UNGA Resolution 2758 in 1971. From the Cold War to the post-Cold War order and into the current age, characterized by Asia’s economic development, cooperation further evolved. Each state gained diplomatic space, strategic stability, and legitimacy through multilateral collaboration. Within important international organizations, Pakistan and China have transitioned from diplomatic alignment to strategic convergence during the last 75 years. Their mutual political trust has evolved into coordinated international activity.
Historical Evolution of Multilateral Coordination: 1950s-1990s
One of the first non-communist countries to support China in its spell of diplomatic isolation was Pakistan. In 1961, Islamabad started lobbying for China to have its rightful representation in the United Nations on the grounds that the organization could not be complete without a seat for a country that represented 25 per cent of the world population.
This assistance had, in 1971, developed into active diplomacy when Pakistan helped the U.S.A. Adviser, Henry Kissinger, to make a backdoor visit to Beijing, thus providing a channel to U.S.-China rapprochement. At the same time, China re-joined hands with Pakistan in various sensitive forums and has consistently supported Pakistan in the Security Council deliberations on the Kashmir issue against India. The emergence of the growing influence of China and the Pakistani shift allowed both nations to protect mutual concerns of the Global South in international unions like the G-77. This cooperation created an institutional basis on which their long-term strategic alliance would be built.
Realignment After 2000: China Becomes a Global Player
The status of China on the globe was changed significantly at the beginning of the new millennium. This status culminated in a tipping point when, in December 2001, China became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). China entered into conformity with international trade rules and opened the door for global export and economic influence across the world. These actions led to the enlargement of the multilateral influence of China by setting up regional security and development organizations, like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). On its part, Pakistan enhanced its institutional relationship with China, recognizing common interests with China on issues of development cooperation, stability in the region, and counterterrorism. China, in turn, backed Pakistan in the issue of development and independence.
As a result, post-2000 multilateral relations between China and Pakistan had turned, remaining not only the symbolic solidarity but also the formal cooperation, which became part of the international trade agreements, institutions, and regional security systems.
Mutual interests and the United Nations Organization
In the 2000s, Pakistan and China developed a more organized and policy-based multilateral cooperation on the platforms of the United Nations Organization. The two states are steadfast in their mutual cooperation and support for their common interests, including the principle of the One-China, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the principle of non-interference, and have continued to support each other through various joint statements. Regarding sensitive matters such as Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea, Pakistan has always supported China. Within the framework of reciprocation, China provides Pakistan with diplomatic support for its developmental agenda and sovereign rights. These efforts at UNO have transformed the bilateral alliance in the United Nations into a strong-bedded, institutional collaborative relationship that previously existed in form as mere rhetoric.
Regional and Transregional Platforms
Pakistan joined the SCO as an observer state and became a full member with the support of China in June 2017, establishing it as a major regional platform between the two countries. The SCO structure has enhanced the diplomatic and economic position of Pakistan in Central Asia and encourages cooperation in the areas of cyber regulation, counterterrorism, infrastructure, and connectivity.
Pakistan, as one of the founding countries of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has been able to get a large amount of funding in transportation, flood recovery, climate resilience, and other infrastructure projects. As an active supporter, Pakistan has become instrumental in many AIIB-China coalitions where other states within the region are not included.
At the global level, Pakistan often served as a leader state within the Group of 77 and China (G77 +China), and this time as a chair in 2022. They have collectively supported the idea of financing sustainable development and a fair economic order in third-world countries. This hybridity in interaction reflects how the alliance has developed into institutionalized and organized co-operation, not just bilateral rhetoric.
Multilateral Cooperation in a Changing World Order
China and Pakistan have strengthened their strategic collaboration in the current changing world political order and an ever-growing competition between the two superpowers, the United States and China. Pakistan has displayed middle-power diplomacy by being a pioneering advocate of the new global structures that have just been adopted by China, like the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). These initiatives make the bilateral cooperation beyond the symbolic solidarity, and they influence the field of development, security, and governance in the environment of a transforming world.
Challenges and Limitations
There are high obstacles in the relations between Pakistan and China, regardless of the growth of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The economic limitations in Pakistan hinder its bargaining power, and the geopolitical coercion of the West often complicates the strategic alignment issue. The institutional weaknesses prevent Islamabad from consistently being represented in global forums. Moreover, as a result of over-dependency on one large partner, the relationship is subject to strategic vulnerability. Organizational and proactive policy planning in the number of alliances is necessary for multilateral diplomacy. In the context of the new global order, these issues will be addressed, which will guarantee the credibility and sustainability of the Pakistan-China multilateral coordination.
Conclusion
Pakistan-China collaboration has evolved out of bilateral relations to a multilateral strategic alignment, which is organized. Gradually, both countries are collaborating in developing finance, electronic governance, anti-terrorism criteria, and climate action. Multicultural diplomacy, proactive planning, and unremitting professionalism are all essential. It is anticipated that their partnership will serve as an example of efficient multilateral working and collaboration in the background of growing global challenges and how a common good can drive progressive, sustainable, and trustworthy collaboration on the global stage.
