By Jiang Zaidong
The Middle East, that cradle of civilizations now scarred by endless strife, feels like a powder keg with a fraying fuse. Since the US-Israel strikes on Iran, the flames have licked wider, drawing in proxies and powers, casting long shadows of regional war. Spillover risks mount daily—missiles arc across borders, economies shudder, families huddle in bunkers. Yet amid the din of retaliation, a quieter chorus rises: voices pleading for peace, for dialogue over destruction. The world yearns to see this tinderbox return to stability, to let development breathe again. It’s no abstract hope; it’s the desperate wish of millions whose lives hang in the balance. Into this maelstrom steps Chinese President Xi Jinping with four sober propositions for Middle East peace: commit to peaceful coexistence, honor national sovereignty, uphold the international rule of law, and balance development with security.
These aren’t grand gestures but practical anchors, offering Chinese insight to a crisis that’s defied easy fixes. They’ve struck a chord globally, earning nods from capitals far and wide, including Pakistan—a nation that’s no stranger to the region’s tremors. China and Pakistan, bound as ironclad allies and all-weather partners, have kept a steady, impartial gaze on the fray. They’ve pushed for ceasefires and talks, not picking sides but bridging divides. China, as a heavyweight with genuine ties to the Arab world, vows to keep at it until peace holds. Pakistan, drawing on its unique perch—neighbors to Iran, friends to the Gulf—has flexed its muscles too. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Asim Munir have labored tirelessly, securing a fragile truce and hosting the Islamabad Talks.
China and Pakistan’s foreign ministers huddled thrice, birthing a Five-Point Initiative in Beijing—a clarion call for Gulf and Middle East stability, laced with justice and restraint. Their partnership, rock-solid amid the chaos, injects rare certainty into a swirling vortex, modelling what true alliance can achieve beyond borders. At the heart of this bond pulses a generational friendship, deeper than treaties, warmer than state visits. Since 1951, when diplomatic ties were forged, China and Pakistan have stood shoulder to shoulder, guided by the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence—mutual respect, non-interference, equality. China flags Pakistan as a diplomatic priority; Pakistan calls their friendship the bedrock of its foreign policy. Xi’s landmark 2015 visit to Islamabad opened a bold new chapter.
Last year, in 2025, they unveiled an action plan for an even tighter community of shared future. Over 75 years, leaders have crisscrossed like kin at a wedding—frequent, familial. Ordinary folk dub each other “iron brothers,” invoking that poetic refrain: higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey, stronger than steel. It’s the stuff of proverbs made real—”good neighbors wish each other well”—a template for nations to thrive without devouring one another. In a world of fragile pacts, this is harmony worth emulating, especially as China and Pakistan urge Middle Eastern states to mend fences and coexist. Safeguarding sovereignty binds them tighter still, a red line neither crosses.
They’ve backed each other fiercely on core interests: Pakistan’s unwavering one-China stance, cheering reunification; China’s staunch defence of Pakistan’s independence and self-chosen path. In today’s turmoil, they agree sovereignty isn’t negotiable—it’s the lifeblood for nations, above all the developing world, to stand tall. Gulf states deserve no less: their borders, security, people, and assets must be shielded, not trampled. Imagine a farmer in Balochistan or a trader in Tehran—violate that, and you uproot lives, sow endless grudge. Then there’s their shared devotion to international law, a bulwark against the strong bullying the weak. As Global South champions, they back real multilateralism, propping up the UN-centered order, the rule of law, and the UN Charter’s noble aims.
Recall last year’s SCO Tianjin Summit: Xi unveiled the Global Governance Initiative, a roadmap for fairer world stewardship. Pakistan’s then-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed it instantly, pledging full support for global peace. Their recent Five-Point Initiative? It’s GGI in action, a living testament to law over might. And nowhere is their wisdom more tangible than in wedding development to security—a dance where one leads, the other follows. Security clears the path for growth; growth fortifies defences. In our turbulent age, China and Pakistan chase both. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) hums along, entering CPEC 2.0’s ambitious upgrade—industry, agriculture, mining blooming into “growth, livelihood, innovation, green, and openness corridors.” Picture Gwadar port bustling, fields greening, tech hubs sparking—high-quality progress that lifts millions.
Security deepens too: China backs Pakistan’s anti-terror grit, grateful for safeguards around its people and projects. Together, they nurture a cycle where development breeds safety, safety fuels development. Why hoard it? They’re eager to share with the Gulf and Middle East, tilling soil for collective prosperity. The Middle East’s saga twists on—complex, protracted. Peace isn’t a sprint but a marathon through minefields. China and Pakistan aren’t just partners; they’re pillars of equity, standing firm on history’s right side, humanity’s side. Hand in glove, they’ll champion principles, peace, progress—rallying peace-lovers worldwide. Guided by Xi’s four points and their five-point pact, they’ll toil for a secure, stable Middle East, contributing to that grand vision: a shared future for all humankind. In a region weary of war, this alliance whispers hope—proof that friendship, not firepower, forges tomorrow.
(The writer is a career Chinese diplomat and Ambassador for Pakistan, possesses in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Asia, South Asia and Middle East regions, can be reached at editorial@metro-morning.com)
