Pakistan to issue commemorative coin to mark 75 years of ties with China

Pakistan has announced the issuance of a special PKR 75 commemorative coin to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with China, as the two countries continue celebrations of their longstanding strategic partnership.

Pakistan and China established formal diplomatic relations in 1951, less than two years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Pakistan was the first Muslim nation to establish diplomatic ties with Beijing.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Thursday (May 21, 2026) that the commemorative coin would be available to the public from May 25 through its banking counters across the country.

“To mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, the Government of Pakistan has decided to issue a commemorative coin of Rs.75 (PKR) denomination. This coin will be available to the general public from May 25, 2026, through counters of SBP Banking,” it said in a social media post.

Pakistan and China are widely described as “all-weather allies”, with the two countries maintaining close cooperation in defence, economy, infrastructure and diplomatic affairs over the decades.

China is Pakistan’s largest trading partner and a major investor, particularly through the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. The two sides are already holding events and ceremonies to commemorate the anniversary year.

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On Thursday (May 21, 2026), Pakistan’s top political leadership attended an event in Islamabad marking the occasion, where Cai Dafeng, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress of China, represented the Chinese leadership.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also scheduled to visit China from May 23 to 26 to deepen bilateral ties further and attend events related to the anniversary celebrations.