MOFA says the visit is part of a long tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China
President Asif Ali Zardari departs for a visit to China on April 25, 2026. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB
President Asif Ali Zardari left for China on Saturday on a week-long visit to discuss bilateral relations and mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The President left for the visit from Lahore with Punjab Governor Saleem Haider giving him the day off.
صدرآصف علي زرداري
لاحورایربورت پرگورنرپنجاب سردارسلیم هیدرنی سدر کو والدای کیاا
Governor Sardar Salim Haider کا صدرملكت سے نیک تمناون کا یزرہ pic.twitter.com/VT4dWBJbE7— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) 25 April 2026
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) has previously said that the visit comes at the invitation of the Chinese government. According to a statement released on X, the president will travel to Changsha, Hunan Province, from April 25 to 27, and then to Sanya, Hainan Province, from April 28 to May 1.
“He will hold meetings with the provincial leadership to discuss the bilateral relations between Pakistan and China, with a special focus on economic and trade cooperation and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” the FO said.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will pay a visit to China from April 25 to May 1, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The President will travel to Changsha in Hunan Province and Sanya in Hainan Province and will hold meetings with the province… pic.twitter.com/WuIuucYICJ
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) 25 April 2026
It added that the visit was part of the long-standing tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China, noting that it had special significance as it coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
🔊 PR no. 1️⃣0️⃣9️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Curtain Raiser: Visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the People’s Republic of China
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VpXAQMvP43— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) 25 April 2026
President Zardari last visited China in February 2025, where he met Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the expansion of cooperation under CPEC 2.0, particularly in areas such as renewable energy, science and technology, infrastructure and agriculture.
Read more: Xi to build even closer Sino-Pak ties
The visit also included the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. These include agreements signed between Pakistan’s Thatta Cement Company and China’s Ching Gang Construction Group aimed at increasing cement production in Pakistan by an additional 5,000 tonnes per day.
An MoU was also signed between the Sindh Energy Department and China’s Meng Yang Renewable Energy Company to explore joint renewable energy projects in Pakistan, while a coal gasification and urea production plant project between the Government of Sindh and a Chinese company was also formalized.
