President Zardari to visit China for talks on trade and CPEC

Rabbia Zafar | 3 hours ago

Zardari China visit CPEC trade cooperation

President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to undertake an official visit to China from April 25 to May 1, focusing on strengthening economic cooperation, trade ties, and progress on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Foreign Office said on Friday.

According to the Foreign Office statement, the president will first visit Changsha in Hunan province from April 25 to 27, followed by a visit to Sanya in Hainan province from April 28 to May 1. During his stay, he is expected to meet provincial leadership and review the full spectrum of bilateral relations between Pakistan and China.

The discussions will primarily focus on expanding economic and trade cooperation, with special emphasis on CPEC-related projects, which remain a key pillar of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

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The Foreign Office highlighted that the visit is part of a long-standing tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China. It also carries added significance as both countries are marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

Officials said the visit reflects the deep commitment of both sides to further strengthen their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. The engagement is expected to provide renewed momentum to ongoing collaboration in multiple sectors, including infrastructure, investment, and regional connectivity.

Last year, President Zardari also visited China on a 10-day official trip, during which he met senior Chinese leadership and officials. That visit resulted in the signing of six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Sindh government and Chinese business partners in areas such as agriculture, energy, defence, rail connectivity, and farmer training.

Those initiatives were later planned for expansion to other provinces, reflecting broader efforts to extend the benefits of Pakistan-China cooperation across the country.