Unswervingly Contribute to China-Pakistan Friendship for a Shared Future
初心不改同圆梦，中巴携手筑未来
19 January 2023
2023年1月19日
In October 2020, I flew over the towering Karakorum Mountains and arrived in the beautiful city of Islamabad with joy and expectation. Now I feel so reluctant to leave this beloved country to end my tenure as the Chinese ambassador.
犹记2020年10月，我跨越雄伟的喀喇昆仑山，怀着激动心情赴任美丽的伊斯兰堡。如今我即将卸任中国驻巴基斯坦大使，别离之际，留恋不舍。
Over the past two years, I have been making friends sincerely, promoting cooperation devotedly, seeking development whole-heartedly. I truly felt the iron-clad friendship between China and Pakistan is higher than the mountains and deeper than the sea. I visited four provinces of Pakistan, witnessed the ongoing development of CPEC, facilitated the interaction between the leaders, and enjoyed the enhanced cooperation of various fields.
过去两年多的时光里，我在大使的岗位上，真心交朋友，诚心促合作，用心求发展，体验了中巴之间比山高比海深的“铁杆”情谊，寻访了巴基斯坦四省的风土人情，经历了中巴经济走廊迈入高质量发展新阶段，见证了元首外交的光荣时刻，参与推动中巴各领域合作持续走深走实。
Looking back on the past two years, the evolution of the international situation has become more profound and complex, the COVID-19 pandemic together with the Ukraine crisis, has brought severe negative impact and much uncertainties to the world, and human society is faced with unprecedented challenges. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, China has continuously made new and great achievements. In 2022, the CPC successfully convened the 20th National Congress, drawing up a grand blueprint for advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, and the solemn mission of building a community with a shared future for mankind. China will act as a responsible major country to promote cooperation and friendship, and inject new dynamics of development for its neighbors, including Pakistan, and the world as a whole.
回首极不平凡的两年，国际形势演进更加深刻复杂，新冠疫情与乌克兰危机交织叠加，各种不稳定不确定因素聚集，人类社会面临重重挑战。中国在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，不断取得新的伟大成就。刚刚过去的2022年，中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会胜利召开，擘画以中国式现代化推进中华民族伟大复兴的宏伟蓝图，明确推动构建人类命运共同体的庄严使命，展现了中国将以负责任的大国姿态，为包括巴基斯坦在内的周边乃至世界，播撒合作友谊，注入发展动力。
Against this backdrop, I am pleased to see the high-level interactions between China and Pakistan. The leaders of the two sides have maintained close exchanges through various ways. Last year, President Xi Jinping met with the Prime Ministers of Pakistan three times. Prime Minister Shehbaz paid a successful visit to China in November, becoming the first head of government to visit China after the 20th CPC National Congress. The two sides issued a joint statement and signed 21 cooperation documents. Not long ago, Premier Li Keqiang spoke with Prime Minister Shehbaz, and the new Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang had a telephone call with Foreign Minister Bilawal immediately after taking office. The two sides reiterated to promote practical cooperation in key areas and expedite the development of China-Pakistan relations. With the strong guidance of the leaders, China and Pakistan are making great strides towards building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.
在世界之变、时代之变、历史之变叠加作用的背景下，中巴关系逆势而上，焕发出更强生机活力。我欣喜地看到，中巴高层互动热络。双方领导人通过各种方式保持密切交往，为两国关系发展举旗定向、掌舵领航。去年习近平主席与巴基斯坦总理三次会面。11月夏巴兹总理成功访华，成为二十大后首个访问中国的政府首脑。双方发表联合声明，签署21份合作文件。前不久，李克强总理同夏巴兹总理，新任外长秦刚和比拉瓦尔外长先后通话，双方重申将推进重点领域务实合作，推动中巴关系实现更大发展。得益于两国领导人的有力引领，中巴正朝构建新时代更加紧密的中巴命运共同体大步前行。
I am pleased to see that China and Pakistan have continued to deepen their political trust. Friendship with China has always been a cross-party consensus in Pakistan. During the 20th CPC Congress, China received 58 congratulatory letters from more than 20 political parties and organizations in Pakistan. The two countries support each other on issues of core interests and major concerns. The Pakistani side firmly adheres to the one-China policy. China supports Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and promotes its social-economic development and prosperity. Actions have proved that no matter how the international situation changes, the friendship between China and Pakistan remains unbreakable.
我欣喜地看到，中巴两国政治互信持续深化。对华友好始终是巴国内跨党派共识。中共二十大期间，我们收到了巴基斯坦20余个政党及组织的58封贺电（函）。两国在核心利益和重大关切问题上相互支持。巴方坚定奉行一个中国政策，在台湾、南海、涉港、涉疆和涉藏等问题上支持中国，连续两年在人权理事会上作挺华发言。中方支持巴方维护国家主权、独立和安全，支持巴方经济社会繁荣发展。我们用实际行动证明，无论国际风云如何变幻，中巴友谊始终牢不可破，情比金坚。
I am pleased to see that the building of CPEC has achieved many fruitful results. From the initial layout focusing on Gwadar port, transport infrastructure, energy and industry, and gradually adding JWGs on social-economic development, agriculture, science and information technology, and international cooperation and coordination etc. CPEC has become an important platform for all-round cooperation between China and Pakistan. Just name some progress for recent two years, as Gwadar East Bay Expressway has been opened to traffic, the construction of the new Gwadar airport has been accelerated, the Technical and Vocational Institute has been handed over to Pakistan. Karot Hydropower Project has got its COD, and K3 Nuclear Power Plant together with TEL and Nova Power Plants all started operation. Both sides agreed to actively promote the ML-1 project and the KCR project. As a landmark project of “Belt and Road Initiative”, CPEC has brought a total of $25.4 billion in direct investment, $17.55 billion in revenue, $2.12 billion in taxes, and created 192,000 jobs for Pakistan, helping Pakistan to add 6000 megawatts of electricity, 510km of highway and 886km of national core transmission network, laying a solid foundation for Pakistan’s economic and social development.
我欣喜地看到，中巴经济走廊建设成果丰硕。从最初以瓜达尔港、交通基础设施、能源、产业为重点的合作布局，又陆续新增社会民生、农业、科技和国际合作与协调等工作组，中巴经济走廊成为中巴全方位务实合作的重要平台。当前，瓜达尔东湾快速路建成通车，瓜达尔新机场加快建设，职业技术培训中心已转交巴方。卡洛特水电站、K3核电站、塔尔煤田二区块TEL电站实现商运。双方同意就ML-1项目和KCR项目积极推进。作为共建“一带一路”的标志性项目，中巴经济走廊累计为巴带来254亿美元直接投资，累计实现营收175.5亿美元，累计缴纳税收21.2亿美元，累计为巴方创造19.2万个就业岗位，帮助巴新增6000兆瓦电力、510公里高速公路和886千米国家核心输电网，为巴经济社会发展奠定坚实基础。
I am pleased to see that bilateral trade has a good momentum of development. The second phase of China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement has shown its effectiveness. Supporting policies such as currency swaps have been continuously improved. Facilitation initiatives such as the export of high-quality agricultural products to China have been steadily promoted. The economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has maintained at high level. China has become Pakistan’s largest trading partner for eight years in a row. In particular, Pakistan’s agricultural exports to China are growing rapidly, with a trade surplus of 13 times increase in 2021, and total agricultural export volume is expected to exceed US $1 billion in 2022. During the meeting with President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that deepening cooperation in CPEC and other areas with China is the future direction and the only choice for Pakistan. China will join hands with Pakistan to better transform Pakistan’s geographical advantages, resource advantages and labor advantages into export competitiveness and economic growth.
我欣喜地看到，中巴经贸合作乘势而上。中巴贸易合作态势良好，潜力巨大。中巴自贸协定第二阶段议定书效用显现，货币互换等支持政策不断完善，优质农产品输华等政策便利化稳步推进，两国经贸合作保持高水平，中国已连续8年成为巴最大贸易伙伴.特别是巴基斯坦对华农产品出口增长迅速，2021年顺差较前增长13倍。2022年出口有望突破10亿美元。夏巴兹总理在会见习近平主席时表示，深化走廊等领域合作，从而更好实现自身发展，这是巴未来前进方向和唯一选择。中方将携手巴方，将巴基斯坦的地缘优势、资源优势和劳动力优势更好转化为出口竞争力和经济增长力。
I am pleased to see that cooperation in other fields also has been promoted in an all-round way. As an important pillar of our unique friendship, the relations between the armed forces have achieved fruitful progress, and will deepen cooperation in areas of training, joint exercises and military technology, contributing to the maintenance of regional peace and stability. People-to-people exchanges have overcome the difficulties of the COVID and remained active. More than 140 activities were held during the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties. With the easing of the relevant policies and the resumption of flights, the exchanges will surely increase in 2023, the China-Pakistan “Year of Tourism”.
我欣喜地看到，中巴各领域合作全面推进。中巴两军关系作为两国关系的重要支柱，在高层互访、联演联训、抗疫合作、装备技术等领域合作成果丰硕，不断充实两国战略合作内涵，为维护地区和平稳定贡献力量。两国人文交流克服疫情困难保持热度。两国建交70周年期间举行活动140余场。随着疫情缓和、航班恢复，2023年作为“中巴旅游交流年”，人员往来必将日益密切。此外，高等教育学历学位互认协定，防止盗窃、盗掘和非法进出境文化财产协定等文件签署，不断丰富两国合作内涵。
I am pleased to see that the people of China and Pakistan keep assisting and supporting each other in times of difficulties and need. Since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic, China and Pakistan have joined hands and helped each other. When China faced shortage of medical supplies, Pakistan sent a special plane to deliver the medicines. Vice versa, the Chinese government assisted Pakistan with testing reagents and masks, and making Pakistan the first country to receive vaccines donated by Chinese government and army. Last year, Pakistan was hit by historic flood. China sent timely support to its iron-clad friend. Chinese government, military, enterprises, society and individuals provided more than $160 million in aid, ranking first among all countries. At the recent International Conference on Climate resilience Pakistan, China pledged another 100 million US dollars of aid. I myself went to the Bugti district of Balochistan to distribute Chinese relief supplies to the people affected by the flood. As Prime Minister Shabaz said, no country is as sincere as China in helping developing countries. As an old Chinese saying goes, amity between the people holds the key to sound state-to-state relations. The people of the two countries share great love with true sentiments and with concrete actions.
我欣喜地看到，中巴两国人民守望相助。新冠疫情暴发以来，中巴心手相连，互帮互助，为全球抗疫合作树立典范。在中国医疗物资最紧缺时刻，巴基斯坦派专机送来宝贵的医疗物资。巴基斯坦出现疫情后，中国政府第一时间援助检测试剂、口罩等，将巴基斯坦作为中国政府和军队捐赠疫苗的首批国家，并在巴方支持下在全球率先完成“春苗行动”。去年巴基斯坦遭受历史性洪灾，中方向“铁杆”朋友送去的支持在所有国家中排名第一。在前不久的巴基斯坦气候韧性国际会议上，中国承诺再提供1亿美元专项援助。我本人也前往俾路支省布格蒂部落区，向受洪灾影响的民众发放中方援助的救灾物资。正如夏巴兹总理所言，没有任何国家像中国这样真心诚意帮助巴基斯坦等发展中国家。国之交在于民相亲，两国人民用真情书写大爱，展现了中巴“铁杆”友谊的深厚民意基础。
One special episode I would like to share is that in 1956, Geng Biao, then ambassador to Pakistan, planted a bamboo tree in Chinese Embassy in Karachi to commemorate Premier Zhou Enlai’s visit to Pakistan. In 2021, my embassy colleagues and I introduced this bamboo to the Embassy in Islamabad to inherit this good legacy. As time flies, now this bamboo has sprouted new branches, lush and vibrant, just like the friendship between China and Pakistan, which has been passed on from generation to generation.
遥想1956年，时任驻巴大使耿飚在当时位于卡拉奇的使馆亲手种下一棵楠竹,以纪念周恩来总理访巴。2021年，我和使馆同事们将楠竹引种到位于伊斯兰堡现在的中国驻巴使馆，以期传承坚韧挺拔、昂扬向上的楠竹精神。时光荏苒，如今这坐落在使馆一角的楠竹已经萌发新枝，郁郁葱葱、生机勃勃，恰如中巴两国友谊生生不息、代代相传。
A Chinese poem goes as “bosom friends could be closer than biological brothers.” I have regarded my Pakistani friends as my brothers and sisters, and Pakistan as my second hometown. The two-years time in Islamabad remains a lifetime of Pakistani friendship. I will leave with the best memories, and my heart will stay in Pakistan forever.
“结交在相知，骨肉何必亲”，我已经将巴基斯坦朋友当作我的兄弟姐妹，将巴基斯坦当作我的第二故乡。两年多伊斯兰堡时光，一辈子巴基斯坦情谊。纵然相隔千里，但每当微风吹过楠竹竹叶时，就是我在思念巴基斯坦这个美丽国度，就是我在思念巴基斯坦的兄弟姐妹。我将带上最美好的回忆离开，而我的心永远留在了巴基斯坦。
Allama Iqbal said that, many universes exist beyond the stars, more ordeals of love still awaiting. As good neighbor linked by fate, sincere friend sharing weal and woe, and true brother standing by each other, China and Pakistan are now at a new historical stage. We will take the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries as the guide to continuously deepen friendship, jointly promote the CPEC and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.
巴基斯坦诗人伊克巴尔说：星星的前方还有宇宙，仁爱的考验还远未结束。我相信，作为山水相依、命运相连的好邻居，肝胆相照、患难与共的真朋友，手足同心、守望相助的亲兄弟，中巴站在新的历史阶段，必将以两国领导人的重要共识为引领不断深化友谊，携手共建中巴经济走廊，构建新时代更加紧密的中巴命运共同体。
I sincerely wish Pakistan prosperity and its people happiness and health. May the iron-clad friendship between China and Pakistan last forever. May the cooperation between the two countries more prosperous. May China and Pakistan continue to write new legends.
衷心祝愿巴基斯坦繁荣昌盛，人民幸福安康，祝愿中巴“铁杆”友谊万古长青，两国各领域合作更加兴旺，不断书写新的传奇！
Chin-Pak Dosti Zindabad!