President Asif Ali Zardari, currently on an official visit to Sanya in China’s Hainan province, held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister-Designate of the Republic of Iraq, Ali Falih Khadim Al-Zaidi, and conveyed his congratulations on his elevation to the coveted position as the head of the government.
The president extended his sincere wishes for the success of the Prime Minister-Designate in forming a stable government, noting that his choice as the PM reflects confidence placed in his leadership at an important moment for the republic of Iraq, a Presidency’s news release said on Friday.
During the conversation, the president underlined that Pakistan and Iraq enjoyed a relationship grounded in shared values and mutual respect and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthen this brotherly bond.
He highlighted the potential to expand economic engagement, including in trade and investment, energy cooperation, infrastructure, agriculture and renewable energy. He also emphasized the importance of enhanced academic collaboration and people-to-people exchanges to sustain a long-term partnership.
The prime minister-Designate thanked the President for his warm wishes and extended an invitation to visit Iraq at a mutually convenient time.
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari departed for Pakistan from the Chinese city of Sanya on Friday after completing a five-day official visit to China aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across key economic sectors.
The president was seen off at Sanya Airport by senior Communist Party of China Hainan leader Wang Qiang. Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, and senior officials of China’s foreign ministry were also present on the occasion, a Presidency’s news release said.
During the visit, President Zardari held discussions in Hunan and Hainan provinces focusing on enhancing cooperation in industrial development, agriculture, and the maritime economy. A key emphasis remained on advancing initiatives under CPEC 2.0, particularly in promoting domestic industrial growth and the blue economy.
In Changsha, three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed between Pakistani and Chinese institutions to boost collaboration in seawater desalination, agricultural technology, and the tea sector. Additionally, in Sanya, two more MoUs and a joint investment agreement were signed in the presence of the President, covering cooperation in machinery, animal vaccines, and medical technology.
President Zardari also held detailed meetings with provincial leadership in Changsha and Sanya, underscoring the importance of sub-national engagement in expanding bilateral ties.
As part of his engagements, the President visited Shaoshan, the birthplace of Mao Zedong, where he paid tribute to the late Chinese leader.
In Sanya, the president attended the commissioning ceremony of the Pakistan Navy’s first Hangor-class submarine as the chief guest, marking a significant milestone in defence cooperation between the two countries.
The visit coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, providing an opportunity for both sides to explore avenues for further expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.