ISLAMABAD: Asif Ali Zardari returned to Pakistan on Friday after concluding a five-day official visit to China aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across key economic sectors.
The president departed from the Chinese city of Sanya on Thursday, wrapping up a visit focused on enhancing economic ties and expanding collaboration between the two countries.
At Sanya Airport, he was seen off by senior Communist Party of China Hainan leader Wang Qiang. Also present were Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, and senior officials from China’s foreign ministry.
During his visit, President Zardari held meetings in Hunan and Hainan provinces, focusing on boosting cooperation in industrial development, agriculture, and the maritime economy.
A major focus of the visit was advancing initiatives under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0, particularly to promote domestic industrial growth and develop the blue economy.
In Changsha, three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed between Pakistani and Chinese institutions to enhance cooperation in seawater desalination, agricultural technology, and the tea sector.
Additionally, in Sanya, two more MoUs and a joint investment agreement were signed in the presence of the president, covering collaboration in machinery, animal vaccines, and medical technology.