Pakistan, June 2 -- Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise the People's Republic of China in 1950, at a time when Beijing remained diplomatically isolated from most of the world. Diplomatic relations were established on 21 May 1951. That early recognition was more of a foreign policy choice than an economic calculation, shaped by geography and Islamabad's desire to diversify its international relationships as a newly independent state, at a time when rigid Cold War alignments were being pressed on every emerging nation. Trade between the two commenced shortly after 1951, but it took another twelve years for both countries to sign their first formal trade agreement in 1963. Economic relations evolved into a comprehensive free ...