ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday thanked China for its consistent support to Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, development, and its “principled and just stance” on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
President Zardari made the remarks during a meeting with Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, at the Presidency on Thursday, a press release said.
The President said that Pakistan and China are iron brothers, time-tested friends, and all-weather strategic partners, and friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, which enjoys unanimous public, political, and institutional support in Pakistan.
President Zardari also conveyed his condolences on the loss of precious lives in the recent floods in Beijing and Gansu province of China.
He recalled his visit to China earlier this year, during which he had successful meetings with President Xi Jinping and the senior leadership of China.
“The visit underscored my confidence in the steadfastness of the Pakistan-China iron brotherhood,” he added.
He stated that during his previous tenure, he visited China 14 times to have a deeper understanding of the country’s development and progress, efforts which served as a foundation for the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The President noted that 2026 will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, and shared that Pakistan is planning to commemorate this significant milestone in a befitting manner.
He added that both countries can use this occasion to pass on the enduring legacy of Pakistan–China friendship to future generations.
The President described CPEC — a key part of President Xi Jinping’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative — as having immense strategic importance for both nations.
He emphasised that CPEC plays a vital role in realising their shared vision for enhanced regional connectivity, economic integration, and a peaceful neighbourhood.
Sharing his thoughts, Wang Yi remarked that the friendship between China and Pakistan has endured for generations and continues to grow stronger with time.
He said President Xi Jinping’s vision is that Pakistan and China have a shared future, and work should be done to bring the two peoples closer to each other. He said China acknowledges Pakistan’s support for China at key junctures.
Matters relating to bilateral cooperation and regional security also came under discussion.
Earlier today, Pakistan and China held the 6th round of Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue reviewing the entire gamut of Pakistan-China relations and discussing important regional and global issues.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a post on X that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also exchanged in-depth views on multiple facets of bilateral cooperation, including CPEC 2.0, trade and economic relations, multilateral cooperation, and people-to-people ties.
