ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari met with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday.
During the high-level meeting, the two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties, expediting China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, and ensuring security measures for Chinese nationals in Pakistan.
Participation of Key Officials
The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and other senior members of Pakistan’s delegation.
Focus on CPEC 2.0
President Zardari also held discussions with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji, where both sides underscored the everlasting and deep-rooted China-Pakistan friendship.
They focused on the high-quality development of CPEC 2.0, emphasizing cooperation in science and technology, renewable energy, infrastructure, and agriculture.
The two leaders described CPEC as a model of people-centric development, highlighting its win-win cooperation, shared benefits, and common prosperity.
Enhancing Institutional Cooperation
Both sides discussed opportunities to strengthen institutional linkages, including parliamentary exchanges and participation in the CPEC Political Parties Joint Consultative Mechanism, to further reinforce bilateral cooperation.
Details of the State Visit
President Zardari arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a five-day state visit, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.
He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and other senior officials.
Discussions on Trade, Investment, and Security
During his visit, President Zardari is scheduled to meet with top Chinese political leaders to discuss trade, investment, regional security, and economic cooperation.
Over the past few decades, China has emerged as Pakistan’s largest trading partner and a major investor, particularly in infrastructure and energy projects.
