CHANGSHA: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday held a meeting with Shen Xiaoming, Party Secretary of China’s Hunan province, and attended a banquet hosted in his honour by Governor Mao Weiming, as both sides reaffirmed commitment to strengthening Pakistan-China cooperation.
The discussions focused on expanding practical collaboration in agriculture, health, education and trade, alongside broader engagement under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
During the meeting, the president invited Shen Xiaoming to visit Pakistan for the 75th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations between the two countries, describing Pakistan-China ties as a cornerstone of foreign policy.
He highlighted his family’s longstanding association with China, recalling the contributions of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in strengthening bilateral relations, and said the tradition continues through the next generation.
President Zardari expressed interest in enhanced cooperation in agricultural technology, including seed development, modern farming practices, agricultural machinery, minerals processing and information technology.
Governor Mao Weiming described Pakistan and China as “good friends, good neighbours, good partners and good brothers,” and said Hunan would continue to support the development of CPEC 2.0.
He noted that universities in Hunan have signed 12 cooperation agreements with Pakistani institutions, while 959 Pakistani students are currently enrolled in various academic programmes in the province.
Speaking at the banquet, the president said Hunan holds historical significance as the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong, whose ideology remains widely respected in Pakistan. He added that Pakistan and China share deep-rooted ties that will continue to strengthen with time.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong said the visit reflected the president’s special regard for Hunan and would further deepen cooperation in agriculture, industry and minerals, particularly as both countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations.
Members of the Pakistani delegation, including federal and provincial ministers, senior officials and Pakistan’s ambassador to China, also attended the events
