President Zardari’s visit gives fresh impetus to Pakistan-China ties at 75

• Asif Ali Zardari’s week-long visit coincides with 75 years of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations

• China and Pakistan deepen cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing and tea industry

• Maritime security and defence technology collaboration expands during Hainan leg of visit

• Chinese scholar says visit injects strong momentum into practical bilateral cooperation

 BEIJING: President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent official visit to China, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations, has further reinforced the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two iron-clad allies and injected fresh momentum into expanding practical bilateral cooperation.

President Zardari’s visit, held from April 25 to May 1, 2026, with stops in Hunan and Hainan provinces, deepened strategic engagement and broadened cooperation across multiple sectors, according to Prof Cheng Xizhong, Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Institute, a Beijing-based non-governmental think tank focused on diplomacy and international studies.

Prof Cheng’s remarks come at a time of profound regional and global shifts, as Pakistan-China relations continue to maintain a steady upward trajectory, anchored in high-level mutual trust and strategic understanding.

He said President Zardari’s visit centered on result-oriented cooperation across a broad range of sectors, aimed at translating the longstanding friendship between the two countries into tangible development outcomes.

During the Hunan leg of the visit, both sides held in-depth discussions on cooperation in modern agriculture, advanced manufacturing and the tea industry, reaching a series of agreements expected to strengthen sub-national economic and trade ties and promote win-win development at the local level.

In Hainan, the two countries further deepened collaboration in maritime security and defense technology, a move Prof Cheng described as strategically significant for safeguarding the maritime security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, and for advancing regional maritime stability and development.

Prof Cheng said the visit fully reflected the enduring brotherhood and time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China, built over 75 years of close cooperation and mutual support on issues of core national interests and major concerns.

He noted that the two countries’ comprehensive cooperation in economy, public welfare, security and other sectors has delivered tangible benefits to their peoples and laid a strong foundation for the sustained growth of bilateral relations.

Looking ahead, Prof Cheng said the visit would serve as a new starting point for promoting the high-quality development and upgrading of CPEC, while expanding cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, green energy and high technology.

He added that Pakistan and China would continue to move forward together, deepen mutual trust and practical cooperation, and work towards building a closer community of shared future, contributing to regional peace, stability and common prosperity.