President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in China shortly after midnight on Saturday to commence an official visit aimed at enhancing economic and trade relations, with particular emphasis on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He landed in Changsha, where he was welcomed by Hu Xusheng, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial People’s Congress. The event was also attended by the ambassadors of China to Pakistan and Pakistan to China.
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider saw off the president at Allama Iqbal International Airport, marking the beginning of this significant diplomatic journey. The Foreign Office outlined that President Zardari’s itinerary includes a stay in Changsha from April 25 to 27, followed by a visit to Sanya in Hainan province from April 28 to May 1.
During his visit, the president is set to engage with provincial leaders to assess the broad spectrum of Pakistan-China relations, focusing on economic and trade collaboration alongside advancing the CPEC initiative. This trip is part of the enduring tradition of high-level exchanges between the two nations and holds special importance as Pakistan and China commemorate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year.
Notably, the visit underscores the strong commitment from both countries to deepen their strategic cooperative partnership. Last year, President Zardari undertook a 10-day official visit to China, where he met with senior Chinese officials to strengthen bilateral relations, broaden cooperation across various sectors, and promote shared priorities.
During that visit, six memoranda of understanding were signed between the Sindh government and Chinese business partners, covering areas such as agriculture, defence, energy, rail connectivity, and farmer training. Plans were also made to extend these initiatives to other provinces, highlighting the ongoing efforts to expand collaboration.
