President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in China shortly after midnight on Saturday, beginning an official visit aimed at strengthening economic and trade relations, particularly regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
As per a statement from his office, he landed in Changsha and was welcomed by Hu Xusheng, the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial People’s Congress.
The Foreign Office, in its statement, mentioned that the president is set to visit Changsha in Hunan province from April 25 to 27, followed by a trip to Sanya in Hainan province from April 28 to May 1.
“[The] ambassadors of China in Pakistan and Pakistan in China were also present on the occasion,” stated the President’s Secretariat.
The Foreign Office indicated that this visit is part of the longstanding tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China and holds special significance as both nations celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year.
It also mentioned that the trip demonstrates the “deep commitment” of both nations to further strengthen their strategic cooperative partnership.
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider bid farewell to the president at Allama Iqbal International Airport, as reported by the state broadcaster Pakistan Television Corporation.
“During the visit, President Zardari will engage with provincial leadership to assess the full range of Pakistan China relations, with a particular emphasis on economic and trade collaboration as well as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” the statement concluded.
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