President Asif Ali Zardari has called for stronger strategic trust between Pakistan and China through continued high-level engagement and deeper economic cooperation.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Ambassador-designate to China Dr Syed Ali Asad Gilani in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Zardari Seeks Deeper Economic Integration
President Zardari said Pakistan-China relations remain the most important part of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
He stressed the need to convert strong political ties into greater economic and industrial cooperation.
He welcomed the focus on Business-to-Business cooperation under CPEC 2.0.
He also highlighted modern agriculture, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies as key areas for future cooperation.
According to Zardari, these sectors can help develop skills and create employment opportunities for Pakistani youth.
Focus on People-to-People Ties
The president urged the ambassador-designate to maintain active engagement with Chinese government institutions and CPC leadership.
He also called for stronger links with Chinese think tanks, universities, academia and media.
Zardari emphasised the importance of people-to-people contacts, including expanded student exchange programmes.
He said stronger public and institutional connections could further reinforce mutual understanding between the two countries.
Zardari Looks Forward to Xi Visit
President Zardari also expressed his anticipation of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan for next year’s SCO Summit.
He said continued high-level exchanges would help sustain and strengthen the long-standing strategic partnership.
The president stressed that Pakistan-China cooperation should continue expanding across economic, technological, educational and diplomatic areas.
