- President says Xinjiang linkages will boost cultural and economic bonds, saying CPEC’s 2.0 offers vast scope in agriculture, mining and industry
- Chen Xiaojiang highlights Xinjiang’s GDP surpassing 5.6 trillion yuan, terming eight sister-city arrangements, including Urumqi-Peshawar key connectors
- Zardari calls Pak-China friendship ‘unique, time-tested, and cornerstone of foreign policy’
URUMQI/ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to work closely with China in countering terrorism and extremism while expanding cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, livestock, industry, mining, and emerging technologies.
Speaking during a meeting with Communist Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Chen Xiaojiang—who was accompanied by Governor Erkin Tuniyaz—President Zardari said the growing linkages between Xinjiang and Pakistan’s northern areas would further strengthen cultural and economic bonds. “The day is not far when both countries will be easily accessible by road,” he remarked.
President Asif Ali Zardari met Mr Chen Xiaojiang, CPC Secretary of Xinjiang, in Urumqi. He reaffirmed Pakistan-China friendship as the cornerstone of foreign policy & stressed deeper cooperation in CPEC, agriculture, industry, mining & counter-terrorism. pic.twitter.com/bz237hhbtM
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) September 18, 2025
Underscoring Xinjiang’s pivotal role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the president encouraged greater collaboration in agriculture and industry, highlighting the potential of Special Economic Zones in Gilgit-Baltistan. He invited people from Xinjiang to visit Pakistan’s northern regions and reiterated that Pakistan will always remain China’s most reliable partner and trusted friend.
Chen warmly welcomed President Zardari and recalled his previous visit to Urumqi in 2011 to attend an expo. He also referred to the president’s trip to Beijing earlier this year, where he met President Xi Jinping and witnessed the signing of several cross-sectoral agreements and MoUs, according to a Presidency news release.
President Asif Ali Zardari visited the Urban Operations & Management Centre in Urumqi, where he was briefed on its integrated digital system linking 30+ departments and 200+ services. He appreciated the model and hoped Pakistan’s city planners would draw lessons from it. pic.twitter.com/RNo1YcUfTv
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) September 18, 2025
The Party Secretary also highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to China for the SCO Summit and the 80th Anniversary of Victory over Fascism, during which the second phase of CPEC was fast-tracked with agreements worth billions of dollars in industry, agriculture, mining, and other sectors.
Chen underlined that Xinjiang has become a hub of prosperity, social stability, and lasting peace, with its GDP now exceeding 5.6 trillion yuan. He noted the region’s advancement in agriculture and livestock while addressing the root causes of extremism and terrorism. He also pointed out recent visits by the Governor of Balochistan and the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan to Xinjiang.
Highlighting people-to-people linkages, Chen said eight sister-city arrangements exist between Pakistan and China, including Urumqi and Peshawar. He expressed Xinjiang’s eagerness to deepen government-to-government and business-to-business cooperation with Pakistan, particularly in agriculture, livestock, mining, and industry. He also assured that both sides would continue to maintain “zero tolerance” against terrorist groups targeting the two countries.
In his remarks, President Zardari said he was delighted to visit Xinjiang again and praised the unity of the Chinese people and the region’s remarkable progress. He reaffirmed that Pakistan-China friendship is “unique, time-tested, and the cornerstone” of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
The meeting was followed by a dinner hosted by Chen Xiaojiang in honour of President Zardari and his delegation. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Energy Minister Nasir Shah, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, and the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan also attended the event.
