MOFA says visit is part of long tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China
President Asif Ali Zardari leaves for a visit to China on April 25, 2026. PHOTO: SCREEN CAPTURE
President Asif Ali Zardari left for China on Saturday for a week-long visit to discuss bilateral relations and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The President left for the visit from Lahore with Punjab Governor Saleem Haider bidding him farewell.
صدرآصف علی زرداری پانچ روزہ دورہ پر چین روانہ
لاہورائیرپب
گورنر سردار سلیم حیدر کا صدرمملکت سے نیک تمناؤں کا اظہار pic.twitter.com/VT4dWBJbE7– PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) April 25, 2026
The Foreign Office (FO) earlier said that the visit comes at the invitation of the Chinese government. According to a statement published in X, the president will travel to Changsha, Hunan province, from April 25 to 27, and then to Sanya, Hainan province, from April 28 to May 1.
“He will hold meetings with provincial leaders to discuss bilateral relations between Pakistan and China, with particular focus on economic and trade cooperation and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” the FO said.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will pay a visit to China from April 25 to May 1, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The president will travel to Changsha, Hunan Province, and Sanya, Hainan Province, and hold meetings with provincial leaders… pic.twitter.com/WuIuucYICJ
– Global Times (@globaltimesnews) April 25, 2026
He added that the visit was part of the long tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China, noting that it had special significance as it coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
🔊PR No.1️⃣0️⃣9️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Curtain Raises: Visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the People’s Republic of China
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VpXAQMvP43— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 25, 2026
President Zardari last visited China in February 2025 and met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the expansion of cooperation under CPEC 2.0, particularly in areas such as renewable energy, science and technology, infrastructure and agriculture.
Read more: Xi seeks to build even closer ties between China and Pakistan
The visit also included the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) 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 Chinese company Meng Yang Renewable Energy Company to explore joint renewable energy projects in Pakistan, while a coal gasification and urea production plant project was also formalized between the Sindh Government and a Chinese company.
