President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday departed on a visit to China, with the Foreign Office (FO) saying his engagements will focus on economic and trade cooperation as well as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider saw off the president at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, state-run PTV said.
According to the FO, the president will travel to Hunan province’s Changsha from April 25 to 27, and then to Hainan province’s Sanya from April 28 to May 1.
“During the visit, the president will hold meetings with provincial leadership to review the full spectrum of Pakistan-China ties, with particular focus on economic and trade cooperation as well as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” the statement added.
The FO added that the visit is part of the “longstanding tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China and carries special significance as both countries mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year”.
It further said the trip reflects the “deep commitment” of both sides to further strengthen the strategic cooperative partnership.
President Zardari last visited China in February 2025, meeting China’s Premier Li Qiang to discuss the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the expansion of cooperation under CPEC 2.0, particularly in areas like renewable energy, science and technology, infrastructure, and agriculture.
The visit also included the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. These include agreements signed between Pakistan’s Thatta Cement Company and China’s Ching Gang Construction Group, aimed at increasing cement production in Pakistan by an additional 5,000 tonnes per day.
An MoU was also signed between the Sindh Energy Department and China’s Meng Yang Renewable Energy Company to explore joint renewable energy projects in Pakistan, while a coal gasification and urea production plant project between the Government of Sindh and a Chinese company was also formalised.