Foreign Ministry says visit is part of a 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: SCREENSHOT
President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday visited China for a week-long visit to discuss bilateral relations and mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The President left for the Lahore visit with Punjab Governor Saleem Haider, who accompanied him.
صدرآصف علی زرداری پانچ روزہ دورہ پر چین روانہ
لاہورائیرپورٹ پرگورنرپنجاب سردارسلیم حیدر نے صدر کو الوداع کیا
گورنر سردار سلیم حیدر کا صدرمملکت سے نیک تمناؤں کا اظہار pic.twitter.com/VT4dWBJbE7– PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) April 25, 2026
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) earlier said that the visit took place at the invitation of the Chinese government. According to a statement published on X, the president will visit Changsha, Hunan province, from April 25 to 27, then Sanya, Hainan province, from April 28 to May 1.
“He will hold meetings with provincial leaders to discuss Pakistan-China bilateral relations, with special emphasis on economic and trade cooperation and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” FO said.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will visit China from April 25 to May 1, according to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry. The president will visit Changsha in Hunan Province and Sanya in Hainan Province, and hold meetings with provincial authorities… pic.twitter.com/WuIuucYICJ
-Global Times (@globaltimesnews) April 25, 2026
He added that the visit was part of the long-standing tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China, noting that it assumed special significance as it coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
🔊PR No.1️⃣0️⃣9️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Curtain raiser: 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, where he met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss the All-Weather Strategic Cooperation Partnership and the expansion of cooperation under CPEC 2.0, particularly in areas such as renewable energy, science and technology, infrastructure and agriculture.
Learn more: Xi wants to strengthen Sino-Pakistani ties
The visit also included the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. These include the agreements signed between the Pakistani company Thatta Cement and the Chinese group Ching Gang Construction, aimed at increasing cement production in Pakistan by an additional 5,000 tonnes per day.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Sindh Energy Department and Chinese renewable energy company Meng Yang to explore joint renewable energy projects in Pakistan, while a coal gasification and urea production plant project between the Sindh government and a Chinese company was also formalized.
