President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to further strengthening its strategic partnership with China during a meeting with Mr. Cai Dafeng, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), at Aiwan-e-Sadr today.
Welcoming the Chinese delegation, the President conveyed warm greetings to President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and the people of China. He noted that Pakistan and China are Iron Brothers and All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners, adding that friendship with China remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and enjoys broad national consensus across political, institutional and societal levels.
The President said that Pakistan fully supports President Xi Jinping’s vision of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind and its associated initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative.
Referring to his recent visit to China from 25 April to 1 May 2026, the President said that Pakistan attaches great importance to sustained high-level exchanges and institutional engagement between the two countries. He remarked that he has personally worked proactively to strengthen bilateral ties during both of his presidential tenures.
The meeting also discussed the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China being observed today. The President described the occasion as an important milestone in bilateral relations and noted that Pakistan’s Parliament has adopted commemorative resolutions to mark the anniversary.
The President congratulated China on the successful holding of the Two Sessions and the adoption of the 15th Five-Year Plan. He welcomed increased Chinese investment in Pakistan across sectors including energy, agriculture, industry, technology, mines, minerals and marine resources.
Highlighting the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the President said that CPEC has played a significant role in Pakistan’s economic transformation and infrastructure development.
President Zardari expressed his satisfaction that the implementation of CPEC 2.0 is progressing through a structured action plan, with accelerated focus on industrialization via Special Economic Zones, green energy projects, agriculture modernization, livelihood initiatives and enhanced connectivity.
Mr Cai Dafeng conveyed cordial greetings from President Xi Jinping to President Asif Ali Zardari and expressed sincere appreciation for the longstanding support extended by the President and his family towards the Pakistan-China friendship. He said that celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations would help carry the enduring friendship between the two countries to the younger generation. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Asif Ali Zardari, the bilateral relationship would continue to grow from strength to strength.
Regional and international matters also came under discussion during the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Mr. Naveed Qamar, MNA, and Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, MNA and Convener of the Pakistan-China Parliamentary Friendship Group.
The Chinese side included Mr. Jiang Zaidong, Ambassador of China to Pakistan, Mr. Zhang Xinmin, Deputy Secretary General of the NPC Standing Committee, Ms. Wang Ke, Vice Chairman of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee and Deputy Chairman of the NPC, Mr. Cai Jiming, Member of the NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Shen Zheyi, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the General Office of the NPC Standing Committee.
