TIMELY AID: A Chinese People's Liberation Army helicopter drops disaster relief supplies to residents in flood-hit Hyderabad in south Pakistan on October 8, 2010 (LI XIANG)

May 21 this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. During the past six decades, relations between the two countries have stood the test of time and of drastic changes in the international environment. Their relationship remains strong and solid, like a rock standing firm.

Based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China and Pakistan have engaged in wide-ranging, in-depth and all-dimensional cooperation with mutual respect, understanding, trust and support. They have fostered an all-weather friendship "higher than mountains, deeper than oceans and sweeter than honey." Their relationship provides an example of countries with different social systems and cultures working in concert with mutual confidence and getting on with each other in harmony.

In retrospect, friendly relations between China and Pakistan are attributable to the vision and guidance of the older generations of leaders of the two countries as well as the continued support and contributions of the two governments and peoples. By building upon past accomplishments, the two countries have kept advancing their relations with a consensus on and in an atmosphere of friendship and cooperation. They have become truly "good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers" enjoying a strategic partnership. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's successful visit to Pakistan last December once again took the bilateral relationship to a higher level. This May, Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also visited China—a trip that is bound to give new impetus to the Sino-Pakistani friendship.

It should be noted that the two countries need a new agenda to solidify and renew their traditional friendship at a time when complex and profound changes take place in international and regional situations. They need to explore new areas of cooperation in their strategic partnership. While viewing their relations from a strategic perspective, they should maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, vigorously expand practical cooperation in various fields, increase cultural exchanges, conduct closer coordination and cooperation on international issues and safeguard shared interests more effectively.

Premier Wen and Prime Minister Gilani have designated 2011 as the Year of China-Pakistan Friendship. The two countries are staging a series of celebrations and commemorative events in political, economic, cultural, educational, military and other fields. Since the beginning of this year, exchanges of visits by delegations from various sectors in the two countries have soared. There have been ongoing exchanges between governments, political parties, business communities and armed forces as well as cities and provinces. Also, the fourth round of the Sino-Pakistani strategic dialogue has been held in Beijing.

The two countries' economic and trade relations have gained ground. Their trade volume continues to climb, hitting $8.67 billion in 2010. China has become Pakistan's second largest trade partner, second largest source of imports and fourth largest export destination. The two countries' companies have collaborated closely in areas such as infrastructure construction, transportation, telecommunications and energy in Pakistan. Pakistan has become a premium destination for Chinese companies and capital seeking to penetrate overseas markets.

A host of large innovative initiatives, such as China Mobile Pakistan, the Pak China Investment Co. Ltd. and the Haier-Ruba Economic Zone, have made a good start and are poised to reach their full potentials. Given the Chinese Government's adoption of policies aimed at promoting Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's accelerated development, Pakistan, which borders on the region, will further position itself as a promising market for companies in Xinjiang to realize their "going global" strategies.

When it comes to contacts between Chinese and Pakistani peoples, exchanges between young people, media organizations and academic institutions as well as cultural exchanges have flourished. In the first half of this year, a Chinese and a Pakistani youth delegation, each consisting of approximately 100 members, visited the other's country. Also, China Radio International launched broadcasting services in Pakistan, and several groups of senior Pakistani media professionals visited China.

Against this backdrop, Beijing Review, China's leading English-language newsweekly, has published a special supplement commemorating the 60th anniversary of Sino-Pakistani diplomatic relations. Without a doubt, the move has added luster to the two countries' celebration series and is conducive to deepening the mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and Pakistani peoples.

Six decades becomes a jiazi in the Chinese way of numbering years. It is an end of a cycle, and, more importantly, the beginning of a new one. Looking ahead at this historic juncture, we have reason to believe, with the joint efforts of Chinese and Pakistani governments and peoples, the two countries will build an even better future for their traditional friendship.

The author is China's ambassador to Pakistan