BROTHERS IN ARMS: Chinese and Pakistani soldiers pose during the Friendship-2010 joint antiterrorism drill in Qingtongxia, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on July 3, 2010 (WANG JIANMIN)

Since the founding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in 2001, Pakistan has attached a high level of importance to its engagement with the SCO and is keen to upgrade its relations with the organization in the hope that it would play a role commensurate with its geostrategic status. China has fully supported these efforts of Pakistan.

Defense and security cooperation and strategic dialogue between China and Pakistan at both governmental and institutional levels have been major areas in the bilateral relationship, and have greatly contributed to maintaining peace in the region. Since the early days of the relationship, China and Pakistan have actively conducted exchanges and cooperation on a regular basis and collaborated in research and development on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, enabling the two nations to face emerging challenges and ward off threats together and ensure peace in the region.

Sino-Pakistani cooperation on counterterrorism is another major area for bilateral cooperation. The two countries share the view that separatism, extremism and terrorism pose serious threats to regional security and stability. The international community should enhance coordination to deal with common menaces to regional peace and world security.

Fighting terrorism, China and Pakistan believe the world community has to address both its symptoms and root causes. As a frontline state, Pakistan has made great contributions and sacrifices in the international campaign against terrorism. Pakistan's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity have to be respected, and Pakistan should be allowed to construct its own counterterrorism policy based on its national conditions.

Growing agenda

There has been a growing agenda of cooperation between China and Pakistan on many international and regional issues. Over the years, they have not only shared views on major international and regional affairs, but conducted close and effective cooperation in various international and regional organizations.

Sino-Pakistani cooperation helps find solutions to pressing issues facing today's world by providing an alternative to the current thinking. These challenges include energy security, food security, and climate change, and they also touch upon global governance issues such as the reform of the UN Security Council and international financial institutions.

China and Pakistan are both undergoing tremendous transformations. A successful Pakistan is in the best interest of China and the world community as a whole. China and Pakistan will, as always, continue to support each other in their respective efforts to pursue economic and social development and maintain peace and stability. The Sino-Pakistani strategic partnership and all-round cooperation will have even broader regional and global importance in the years ahead.

Looking ahead, China and Pakistan will have to work even more closely to face up to the complicated challenges in a fast-changing world.

During the past six decades, the Sino-Pakistani strategic partnership has become a stabilizing force in this volatile region. At this moment, China and Pakistan need to strengthen and deepen their cooperation to confront the many difficulties ahead. By doing so, Sino-Pakistani strategic cooperation will continue to make an impact far beyond their bilateral arena.

There has been a growing agenda of cooperation between China and Pakistan on many international and regional issues. Over the years, they have not only shared views on major international and regional affairs, but conducted close and effective cooperation in various international and regional organizations.

The author is vice president of the China Institute of International Studies