President Zardari wraps up China visit with new agreements

ISLAMABAD: Pres­i­dent Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Pakistan on Friday after completing his five-day visit to China.

The president departed for Pakistan from the Chinese city of Sanya on Thursday. His visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation acr­oss key economic sectors.

The president was seen off at Sanya Airport by senior Communist Party of China Hainan leader Wang Qiang. Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, and senior officials from China’s foreign ministry were also present on the occasion.

During the visit, President Zardari held discussions in Hunan and Hainan provinces, focusing on enhancing cooperation in industrial development, agriculture, and the maritime economy.

A key emphasis rem­ained on advancing initiatives under CPEC 2.0, particularly in promoting domestic industrial growth and the blue economy.

In Changsha, three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed between Pakistani and Chinese institutions to boost collaboration in seawater desalination, agricultural technology, and the tea sector. Additionally, in Sanya, two more MoUs and a joint investment agreement were signed in the presence of the president, covering cooperation in machinery, animal vaccines, and medical technology.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2026