To commemorate 74 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, and the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s historic 2015 visit to Pakistan, the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing inaugurated a special photo exhibition on Tuesday titled “Iron Brothers Through Time: Chronicles of Pakistan-China Friendship.”
Ambassador Khalil Hashmi, delivering the keynote address, described the exhibition as a vivid tribute to a friendship that has endured “through time, transitions, and trials.” He pointed to symbolic images capturing key moments in the bilateral relationship, from the Pakistan Air Force escorting President Xi’s plane during his 2015 state visit, to the historic milestone of Pakistan International Airlines becoming the first non-communist airline to land in China in 1964.
“This friendship is not born of convenience,” Ambassador Hashmi stated, quoting Pakistan’s national poet Allama Iqbal to emphasize that the bond between the two nations is founded on mutual respect and shared purpose. “This exhibition is a reminder not only of what we have accomplished but also of the values we continue to uphold—peace, prosperity, stability, and trust.”
Sun Haiyan, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, served as the chief guest. She praised the event as a fitting tribute to the unwavering China-Pakistan friendship. Recalling a heartfelt moment from 2015, she shared the story of an elderly Pakistani man who donated land in Gwadar for a school, calling it a gift for both nations. “This is going to be a school of Pakistan-China friendship, so it should be contributed by both peoples,” she quoted.
The exhibition, featuring decades of archival and contemporary photographs, celebrates not only the memories and milestones shared by the two nations but also reaffirms a shared destiny. Officials from both sides described the “Iron Brotherhood” as a bond forged through time, strengthened by people-to-people ties, and steadfastly committed to a future of cooperation and mutual growth.