A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed on Monday that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay an official visit to Pakistan.

China has consistently emphasized that China and Pakistan are good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers. The two countries enjoy an all-weather strategic partnership. In the eyes of the Chinese people, Pakistan is a true friend. This friendship has withstood the tests of a changeable international situation and can be viewed as a model among inter-state relationships.

In Sept. 2014, considering the prevailing political situation in Pakistan, China and Pakistan agreed to postpone Xi Jinping's planned visit to Pakistan. However, the change of schedule did not result in any negative impact on bilateral relations; both sides are looking forward to Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan as soon as possible.

Pakistan said recently that it intends to invite President Xi Jinping to attend the grand National Day parade in Pakistan which is to be held in late March this year. Since US President Barack Obama has just been invited to attend the National Day parade in India, the news aroused interest and speculation. Some commentators suggested that there is strong flavor of strategic gamesmanship between Pakistan and India.

This not only underestimates China-Pakistan relations, but also shows a one-sided view on the triangular ties between China, India and Pakistan. After Modi became Prime Minister of India, India and Pakistan exchanged positive signals with each other, increasing contacts and improving relations. China and India also maintained close political exchanges and dialogue. Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping have both visited India and China and India are also preparing for Modi's visit to China.

It should be said that China, Pakistan and India have all recognized that the zero-sum game can only result in mutual pain, and that national differences should not prevent practical cooperation. The three parties are making efforts accordingly.

Sino-Pakistan friendship and cooperation is in line with the interests of both sides and that of other countries in the region and the world. Currently, China and Pakistan are conducting all-round cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and trade, and security.

In the political area, President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan will promote bilateral relations to a new level. The most important economic and trade issue between China and Pakistan is to implement the strategic vision of economic corridors. Security is top of the agenda in the field of cooperation on counter-terrorism.

Sino-Pakistan cooperation is not only conducive to improving the trade and investment environment in Pakistan, but also helps improve the security environment in South Asia and Central Asia region as well as reduce security risks in the region.

China upholds an approach of cooperation and win-win to promote friendship between the two countries.

The author is Jia Xiudong, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies.

This article was edited and translated from 《中国与“巴铁”的关系将更铁》, source: People's Daily Overseas Edition