An article in a state-run Chinese daily said that China values Pakistan's unique role in many issues including the Afghan situation.
Pakistan is the only all-weather partner of China and the bilateral relationship which is based on similar strategic and security interests is a model to follow, an article in a state-run Chinese daily said today.
Written by an academic of the state-run Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, the article said Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit this year to Pakistan has elevated bilateral ties to a new level.
"China has established partnerships with a lot of countries in the world, but Pakistan is the only one that is called an all-weather strategic cooperation partner," the article said.
Highlighting China's close support to Islamabad, the article in the Global Times made a rare mention of the Chinese veto against Bangladesh joining the UN in 1972 after the liberation war against Pakistan.
"In 1972, the People's Republic of China used its veto power for the first time to support Pakistan at the UN Security Council by refusing to admit Bangladesh, the former East Pakistan, to the UN," said the article titled 'Pakistan remains faithful partner of China'.
It said that after 1989, every time when China was blamed by the US and other western countries at the UN Commission on Human Rights, "Pakistan was always the first one to stand up and speak for China."
China vetoed Bangladesh's application for UN membership in 1972 soon after the liberation war by which time Dhaka's status as independent country was recognised by India, then Soviet Union and a host of other countries.
Pakistan recognised Bangladesh in 1974 and China formally extended the recognition in 1975.
The rare mention of Chinese veto on Bangladesh joining UN in the Chinese official media is aimed at showcasing decades' old close ties between the two countries which this year was firmed up with over Rs 3 lakh crore (USD 46 billion) economic corridor project connecting both the countries through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
However, it said that people-to-people exchanges are the missing part in the foundation of China-Pakistan cooperation in international affairs.
"Our Pakistani friends enjoy a lot of advantages when contacting Islamic countries, so Pakistan could act as a bridge between China and Islamic countries for further cooperation and collaboration, especially in the process of building "One Belt, One Road" and realising the Asian community of shared destiny," it said.