Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari visited China’s Hunan and Hainan provinces from April 25-May 1.
In the year in which the two countries are celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, a key focus of the visit was on a wide range of economic sectors along with other areas of practical cooperation. It was also notable that the Pakistan head of state chose to visit the home province of Chairman Mao, paying warm tribute to the leader of the Chinese revolution and founder of New China and referencing his own family’s special relationship with China over three generations.
An April 26 post on the official social media page of The President of Pakistan, datelined from Changsha, Hunan’s provincial capital, noted:
“President Asif Ali Zardari, currently visiting Changsha in Hunan province of China, held a meeting with Mr Shen Xiaoming, Party Secretary of Hunan Province, and attended a banquet hosted in his honour by Governor of Hunan Province, Mr Mao Weiming…
“During the meeting, the President invited Mr Shen Xiaoming to visit Pakistan in connection with the 75th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He underscored that Pakistan-China ties remain a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and continue to enjoy broad-based support. He also referred to his long-standing personal connection with China, recalling that his family, including his late father-in-law Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his late wife Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, had always attached special importance to relations with China. He said this tradition is now being carried forward by the next generation, including his son, former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and [daughter] First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari…
“In his remarks, President Zardari said that Hunan holds a special place as the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong, whose legacy continues to resonate. He observed that the idea that power rests with the people remains deeply admired by the Pakistanis. Reflecting on his personal connection with China, he noted that he first visited the country in 1989 and that his affinity for China has grown stronger over time…
“Speaking at the banquet, the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong remarked that the President’s decision to visit Hunan reflects his special regard for Chairman Mao. He noted that Pakistan and China are expanding collaboration in agriculture, industry and minerals, and expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen bilateral cooperation, bring the two peoples closer and add significance to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.”
On April 28, the president’s social media updated from Chairman Mao’s birthplace, Shaoshan:
“President Asif Ali Zardari visited Shaoshan, hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong, where he laid a wreath at the statue of Chairman Mao at Statue Square and paid tribute to China’s revolutionary leader.
“The President was received by Mr Li Jiyang, Senior party leader of Xiangtan People’s Congress and Ms Zhang Xihui, Director of the Shaoshan Administration Bureau of Hunan Province, who apprised him of the life and struggle of Chairman Mao Zedong, highlighting his early years in Shaoshan and the influences that shaped his political thought.
“The President was also briefed on the role of the memorial institutions in preserving historical material and promoting public understanding of China’s revolutionary history.
“Following the wreath-laying ceremony, the President visited the Mao Zedong Memorial Museum, where he was briefed on the life, thought and political legacy of the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China. He viewed historical artefacts, archival material and exhibits documenting key phases of China’s revolutionary history.
“President Zardari paid tribute to Chairman Mao Zedong’s role in China’s historical transformation and acknowledged his contribution to the country’s struggle, unity and development. He noted that the preservation of such sites offers insight into the forces that shaped modern China and underscores the importance of historical memory in national progress.”
An article carried by Global Times, outlining the significance of the visit, quoted Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Centre for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, as saying:
“China-Pakistan relations have been on a stable and positive trajectory. In recent years, high-level exchanges between the two sides have been frequent, particularly with multiple visits to China by senior Pakistani officials, demonstrating close communication and coordination on major international issues, regional hotspots, and bilateral affairs. This visit is also part of such regular exchanges and is expected to further strengthen China-Pakistan relations, while facilitating the implementation of more substantive and concrete cooperation projects under the framework of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).”
The paper added: “On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, the two countries have been maintaining positive cooperation momentum in various aspects such as aerospace.
Two Pakistani astronauts have arrived in China and entered the Astronaut Centre of China in Beijing… to join training alongside their Chinese peers…
“Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud were selected as the final candidates following the completion of the first selection of foreign astronauts for China’s manned space program in early April…
“Also, China launched a Pakistani satellite, named PRSC-EO3, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in north China’s Shanxi Province on Saturday [April 25]…
“On regional and international hotspot issues, China and Pakistan are also showing alignment in positions, offering peaceful and constructive voices in solidarity. For example, on March 31, China and Pakistan put forward five proposals on restoring peace and stability in the Gulf region and the Middle East during talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing.”
Whilst in Changsha, President Zardari also awarded the Sitara-i-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan) award to Chinese cardiologist Pan Xiangbin, in recognition of his contributions to medical assistance in the country.
The Xinhua News Agency reported that: “Pan, vice president of China’s Fuwai Hospital under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and his team conducted intensive training for about 200 local medical personnel in Pakistan in 2025 as part of a bilateral assistance project focused on congenital heart disease (CHD). That project marked the first-ever China-Pakistan technical collaboration in CHD treatment.”
The following articles were originally published by Global Times and the Xinhua News Agency.
Pakistani president visits Hunan, pays tribute to Mao Zedong; China to deepen friendly exchanges and cooperation at all levels: FM
April 28 (Global Times) – Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s ongoing China visit in Central China’s Hunan Province is packed with high-level meetings with provincial leadership, impressive industrial tours, and concrete cooperation agreements as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.
A particularly touching moment came on Monday, when President Zardari visited Shaoshan in Hunan Province on Monday where he laid a floral wreath in the rain at the bronze statue of Mao Zedong, according to the China News Service. Pakistani media outlet Daily Times highlighted that such tribute carries symbolic significance as Pakistan’s leadership pays respect to the historical legacy of New China’s founding figures while reaffirming diplomatic goodwill between the two nations.
President Zardari’s trip from April 25 to May 1 includes visits to Hunan Province and Hainan Province, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. Bilateral relations maintain a sound momentum of robust development, Lin said.
China stands ready to work together with Pakistan to deepen friendly exchanges and cooperation at all levels and between different localities to build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future, the spokesperson said.
Fruitful trip
Zardari arrived in Changsha of Hunan Province, on Saturday, and was warmly welcomed by a local official, according to a post published by the office of the Pakistani president on X platform on early Sunday.
On Sunday, he visited Sany Heavy Industry in Changsha. When seeing products such as unmanned counterbalanced forklifts, he asked, “Why haven’t you been invited to Pakistan?” according to a video released by the China News Service.
In Changsha, the Pakistani president also visited Hunan Tea Group to explore Pakistan-China cooperation in agro-processing and value addition, according to a post published by the office of the Pakistani president on X platform. Zardari was briefed on the supply chain mechanism and invited the Chinese company to bring their expertise in tea cultivation and exports to Pakistan.
On late Sunday evening, Zardari personally placed the Sitara-i-Pakistan — Pakistan’s highest civilian award — around the neck of Chinese doctor Prof. Pan Xiangbin in Changsha. The president warmly shook hands with him, expressing deep appreciation for Pan’s outstanding contributions to cardiac care and his dedicated service to Pakistani children.
According to a report by China News Service on Monday, this special ceremony was designed to recognize Pan’s contributions to cardiac care, including treatment of Pakistani children with congenital heart disease and training of local medical professionals. Pan visited Pakistan in January 2025, according to Pakistan media reports. He and his team performed life-saving procedures on children suffering from congenital heart disease.
This is also a vivid reflection of “iron-clad brotherhood” between China and Pakistan, Chinese observers said.
The Pakistani Foreign Office said that the president’s China visit is part of the “longstanding tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China and carries special significance as both countries mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year,” Pakistani media outlet Dawn said in a report.
“During the visit, the president will hold meetings with provincial leadership to review the full spectrum of Pakistan-China ties, with particular focus on economic and trade cooperation as well as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” the statement added, according to the Pakistani media report.
“China-Pakistan relations have been on a stable and positive trajectory. In recent years, high-level exchanges between the two sides have been frequent, particularly with multiple visits to China by senior Pakistani officials, demonstrating close communication and coordination on major international issues, regional hotspots, and bilateral affairs,” Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times.
This visit is also part of such regular exchanges and is expected to further strengthen China-Pakistan relations, while facilitating the implementation of more substantive and concrete cooperation projects under the framework of the CPEC, Zhu added.
According to the official X account of the office of the Pakistani president, Zardari also witnessed the signing of three MoUs in Changsha related to water desalination in Karachi, agricultural technology and tea sector cooperation, marking continued engagement between Pakistan and China in priority sectors.
The successful implementation of the CPEC served as a strong testament to the unbreakable all-weather strategic bond between Pakistan and China, Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said, Xinhua reported on April 3.
The partnership, rooted in trust, is strengthened through cooperation and enhanced by a shared vision of prosperity, said the minister while addressing the Annual Award Ceremony for Outstanding Pakistani and Chinese Staff of CPEC Projects 2026 recently, per Xinhua.
CPEC is now entering the second phase, marking a strategic shift from infrastructure development to industrialization, innovation and inclusive growth, Iqbal said, according to Xinhua.
Positive momentum
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, the two countries have been maintaining positive cooperation momentum in various aspects such as aerospace.
Two Pakistani astronauts have arrived in China and entered the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing on Friday to join training alongside their Chinese peers, the China Manned Space Agency announced on April 24, the annual Space Day of China.
Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud were selected as the final candidates following the completion of the first selection of foreign astronauts for China’s manned space program in early April, the agency said in an earlier statement.
Also, China launched a Pakistani satellite, named PRSC-EO3, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province on Saturday, Xinhua reported.
On regional and international hot-spot issues, China and Pakistan are also showing alignment in positions, offering peaceful and constructive voices in solidarity.
For example, on March 31, China and Pakistan put forward five proposals on restoring peace and stability in the Gulf region and the Middle East during talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The recent frequent visits to and engagement with China by Pakistani high-level officials including the president himself reflect both the strategic alignment over regional and international issues and high mutual trust between the two countries. And these regular exchanges also allow China and Pakistan to coordinate positions efficiently, respond jointly to complex regional challenges, deepen mutual trust, and strengthen consensus, signaling a broad and promising future for bilateral relations, Chinese observers noted.
Chinese medical expert awarded the Sitara-i-Pakistan
CHANGSHA, April 27 (Xinhua) — Chinese cardiologist Pan Xiangbin has been granted the Sitara-i-Pakistan award in recognition of his contributions to medical assistance in the country.
The award was conferred on Sunday by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province.
Pan, vice president of China’s Fuwai Hospital under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and his team conducted intensive training for about 200 local medical personnel in Pakistan in 2025 as part of a bilateral assistance project focused on congenital heart disease (CHD). That project marked the first-ever China-Pakistan technical collaboration in CHD treatment.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s China trip runs from April 25 to May 1, and includes visits to Hunan Province and Hainan Province, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.
