Asif Ali Zardari Arrives In China On Official Visit

Zardari was accorded a warm welcome when he arrived here on Tuesday evening on a six-day official visit to China.

The President, who arrived in a commercial flight, was received at the Beijing international airport by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhi Jun and senior officials. Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Masood Khan and senior officials of Pakistan Embassy were also present at the airport.



The President’s visit is aimed at boosting the multi dimensional ties with particular emphasis on reviewing progress in a number of new developmental initiatives undertaken during the last two years as well as inviting Chinese entrepreneurs to further bolster their investment in Pakistan.

According to Ambassador Masood Khan, during President Zardari’s July 6-10 official visit the “two countries will make determined efforts to take the relationship to new heights.”

The President, who has a busy official agenda, will have talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao. He would also have meetings with Premier Wen Jiabao and Chairman Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Jia Qinglin.

Chinese ministers of agriculture and water resources will also have meetings with the President.

During the President’s visit, two forums have been organised – the first focusing on Pakistan-China Economic Cooperation to be held in Beijing and the second on Alternative Energy in Shanghai. More than 40 top Chinese enterprises would participate in these forums.

The President would also visit Tsinghua University to inaugurate a photographic exhibition on Mohenjodaro and Gandhara civilizations. In Shanghai, he would visit Pakistan and Chinese pavilions at Shanghai Expo 2010.

The objective of this visit is to strengthen strategic partnership, economic and trade cooperation, and cultural ties between Pakistan and China.

Both countries would intensify their joint efforts against terrorism, and promote regional and international peace and stability to maintain mutual solidarity in the international organisations and forums.

The bilateral trade, with a volume of $7 billion at present, is picking up momentum. Economic cooperation is expanding in energy, mining, infrastructure, agriculture, construction, telecommunications and port development sectors.

“Meeting between the leadership of the two countries would give fresh impetus to this cooperation,” said Ambassador Masood Khan while talking to Pakistani and Chinese media persons here.

Pakistan and China enjoy an all-weather and time-tested friendship. The leadership of both sides will take further steps to increase exchanges between students, academics, researchers, parliamentarians, media persons, scientists, and artists.

“We would invest, especially in people-to-people contacts,” said Ambassador Masood Khan.

Chinese print and electronic media is scheduled to interview President Zardari in Beijing and Shanghai.