China and Pakistan celebrate 75-years of ties with Gala Concert at Great Wall

Against the majestic backdrop of the illuminated Badaling Great Wall, notes of traditional Chinese melodies and the resonant rhythms of Pakistani Sufi Qawwali echoed across Wangjing Square on Sunday evening. The 2026 Beijing International Great Wall Concert, themed “An Ode to Ironclad Friendship,” was held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.

Jointly organized by the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing and the China International Cultural Communication Center (CICCC), with support from the People’s Government of Yanqing District, the landmark cultural gala drew senior diplomats, former Pakistani foreign secretaries and ambassadors, Chinese dignitaries, and artists for an evening of shared heritage and artistic dialogue, CEN reported.

Welcoming guests to the historic gathering, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi highlighted the deep-rooted civilizational links embodied by the venue itself. Badaling holds special historical significance in Pakistan-China relations: the section between Watchtowers 6 and 7 was restored in 1989 with the support of the Government of Pakistan.

“Music gives voice to emotion, while dance gives it form and movement. Together, they transform cultural heritage from something remembered into something experienced,” Ambassador Hashmi remarked, adding that the event carries forward the cultural affinity that complements the nations’ long-standing diplomatic and economic partnership.