President Asif Ali Zardari departed on Saturday for a five-day official visit to China, aiming to engage with Chinese leadership to boost economic and trade collaboration, particularly focusing on the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider Khan bid farewell to the president at Lahore airport as he commenced his journey. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that this visit was undertaken at the invitation of the Chinese government.
During his trip, President Zardari will first visit Changsha in Hunan province from April 25 to 27, followed by a stay in Sanya, Hainan province, from April 28 to May 1. He is scheduled to meet with provincial leaders to discuss bilateral relations, emphasizing the enhancement of economic and trade cooperation and furthering initiatives under CPEC.
This visit continues the tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China and holds special importance as both nations celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year. It underscores the mutual dedication to deepening the all-weather strategic partnership.
Notably, President Zardari had visited China last year on a 10-day official trip, during which he met with Chinese officials to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation across various sectors. That visit resulted in the signing of six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Sindh government and business partners in fields such as defence, energy, railway infrastructure, and agriculture, with plans to extend these agreements to other provinces.
