Changsha, China (Web Desk): President Asif Ali Zardari, who is currently in Changsha in China’s Hunan province, during his five-day official visit to China, held a detailed meeting with Shen Xiaoming, the Party Secretary of Hunan, and later attended a banquet hosted in his honour by Governor Mao Weiming.
During the interaction, both sides discussed ways to further deepen practical cooperation in multiple fields including agriculture, healthcare, education, and trade, while reiterating the long-standing strength and strategic depth of Pakistan-China relations.
President Zardari also extended an invitation to Shen Xiaoming to visit Pakistan in connection with the upcoming celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
He underlined that relations between Pakistan and China remain a key pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy and continue to enjoy strong backing across all segments of society.
Recalling his personal and family association with China, he mentioned that his late father-in-law Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his late wife Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto always placed great importance on ties with Beijing. He added that this tradition is being carried forward by the next generation, including former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari.
The President particularly highlighted Hunan’s advanced capabilities in agricultural technology and modern farming equipment, noting their relevance for Pakistan’s efforts to improve agricultural output and efficiency.
He expressed Pakistan’s interest in expanding cooperation in seed development, agricultural research, and modern cultivation techniques, as well as exploring greater trade in agricultural machinery, mineral processing, and information and communication technologies. The broader regional situation was also part of the discussions.
At the banquet, Governor Mao Weiming described Pakistan and China as “good friends, good neighbours, good partners, and good brothers,” adding that Hunan province is committed to supporting the continued progress on second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0).
He also shared that universities in Hunan have signed 12 cooperation agreements with Pakistani academic institutions and noted that 959 Pakistani students are currently studying in the province, strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two nations.
In his remarks, President Zardari said Hunan holds special historical significance as the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong, whose ideas of people-centred governance remain widely respected in Pakistan. He reflected that he first visited China in 1989 and said his connection with the country has grown steadily stronger over the years.
He further stated that Pakistan and China are bound by deep-rooted and enduring ties, expressing confidence that this relationship would continue to flourish. He also pointed to significant potential for expanding cooperation with Hunan in various sectors observed during his visit.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong noted at the banquet that the President’s visit to Hunan reflects his admiration for Chairman Mao’s legacy.
He added that both countries are expanding collaboration in agriculture, industry, and minerals, expressing hope that the visit would further strengthen bilateral cooperation, bring the two peoples closer, and add special meaning to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The event was attended by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Ali Hassan Barohi, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, the Chief Secretary of Sindh, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi.
Separately, President Zardari visited also SANY Heavy Industry Company Ltd in Changsha, where he stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and China in industrial technology, skills development, and joint ventures aimed at supporting Pakistan’s infrastructure and industrial expansion.
The visit focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration in engineering and construction machinery, along with potential investment, technology transfer, and industrial partnerships.
President Zardari appreciated the advanced scale and technological sophistication of SANY’s manufacturing system and highlighted areas such as construction machinery, digital manufacturing, clean energy, and engineering solutions as promising fields for future cooperation.
He was given a comprehensive briefing on SANY’s operations by Chairman Tang Xiuguo, covering the company’s core industrial activities.
The SANY leadership also expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan in manufacturing, technology exchange, and capacity-building initiatives going forward.