President Asif Ali Zardari will begin a ten-day visit to China on Friday at the invitation of the Chinese government, Radio Pakistan reported on Thursday.
Zardari is scheduled to travel to Chengdu, Shanghai and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where he will meet provincial leadership.
Talks will cover Pakistan-China bilateral relations, with a focus on economic and trade cooperation, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and future connectivity initiatives. The two sides are also expected to exchange views on collaboration at multilateral fora.
Officials said the visit highlights the tradition of high-level exchanges between the two countries and reflects their commitment to strengthen the “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.”
According to the presidency, the trip will reaffirm mutual support on issues of core interest, advance economic and trade cooperation including CPEC, and underscore a joint commitment to regional peace, development and stability.
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In August, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited China to attend the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) summit, held from August 31 to September 1.
During the visit, Pakistan and China signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and joint ventures worth $8.5 billion to deepen business-to-business collaboration in agriculture, industry, health, trade, mining and minerals.
Addressing the signing ceremony in Beijing, Shehbaz described the agreements as the “long march of economic development” between the two nations. “This long march will commence from Beijing and conclude in Islamabad,” he said.
The premier emphasised that the initiative aims to transform Pakistan into a thriving economy by attracting billions in investment, creating millions of jobs and strengthening the country’s financial foundations. “We are resolved to work tirelessly until this long march of economic development reaches its destination,” he said.
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Shehbaz also expressed gratitude to the Chinese leadership and people for their support to Pakistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and socio-economic development. He congratulated China on hosting the SCO summit in Tianjin and extended felicitations on the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The prime minister also met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, in a meeting viewed as significant against the backdrop of ongoing geostrategic developments. Pakistan’s ties with the United States have shifted in recent months, while Washington’s relations with New Delhi have deteriorated.
During the talks, both sides reaffirmed their “ironclad partnership” and vowed to deepen cooperation. Shehbaz added that no one could shake the strong bond between Pakistan and China.
