Pakistan Archives - Friends of Socialist China

Pakistan president pays tribute to Chairman Mao on Hunan visit

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 75^th 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:

Pakistani astronaut to join China’s space station

Two Pakistani candidates have been selected as the first foreign astronauts for China’s space mission training, the China Manned Space Agency announced on April 22, calling it a landmark achievement in international cooperation on the Chinese space station.

The statement added that Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud will come to China soon as reserve astronauts for training. After completing all training and evaluations, one of them will participate in a space mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut onboard the Tiangong space station. This selection and training of astronauts for Pakistan, it noted, is also a milestone in China’s space program and another successful example of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership in the space sector, adding that the peaceful use of outer space for the benefit of all humanity has always been the original aspiration and mission of China’s space program development.

The following day, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the astronauts and described their participation in space research as a landmark achievement for the country and a matter of national pride. The successful candidate will conduct several scientific experiments in microgravity, which span areas including material science, fluid physics, life and bio science, and biotechnology.

“I am confident that you are going to write a new chapter in Pakistan’s history,” the prime minister told the astronauts, appreciating their dedication and hard work that enabled them to reach this important stage.

The astronauts expressed gratitude for the opportunity and termed their participation in space research a “unique honour and a source of pride for Pakistan”. They reaffirmed their resolve to meet the nation’s expectations through dedication and hard work.

On April 24, the Xinhua News Agency reported that the two astronauts had arrived in China and been admitted to the Astronaut Centre of China in Beijing.

The next day, Xinhua further reported that China had launched a Pakistani satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in north China’s Shanxi Province. The satellite, named PRSC-EO3, was lifted off at 8:15 p.m. by a Long March-6 carrier rocket and successfully entered its planned orbit. This launch marked the 640th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

On the evening of April 25, our co-editor Keith Bennett was an invited speaker at the annual dinner of Third World Solidarity, in which many prominent members of Britain’s Pakistani community participated. In the course of his speech, Keith said:

“And there is something else to take pride in this week. Thanks to Pakistan’s friendship with China, on Wednesday it was announced that two Pakistani candidates have been selected for training as the first foreign astronauts to participate in China’s space program. Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud arrived in China today and later this year one of them will be chosen to participate in a space mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut onboard the Tiangong space station.

“It is often said that China-Pakistan friendship is higher than the Himalayas. Well, now it is literally true. And just as the smiling face and engaging personality of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, won hearts around the world, I’m sure that Pakistan’s astronauts, or taikonauts as they are termed in China, will win hearts not just in Pakistan, but throughout the Ummah [the global Muslim community] and indeed beyond.”

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and by the Pakistani newspaper Express Tribune.

Two Pakistani astronauts selected for China’s space mission training

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) — Two Pakistani candidates have been selected as the first foreign astronauts for China’s space mission training, the China Manned Space Agency announced on Wednesday afternoon, calling it a landmark achievement in international cooperation on the Chinese space station.

The agency said in a statement that Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud will come to China soon as reserve astronauts for training. After completing all training and evaluations, one of them will participate in a space mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut onboard the Tiangong space station.

In February 2025, China and Pakistan signed a cooperation agreement on the spaceflight of a Pakistani astronaut to the Chinese space station in Islamabad, officially launching the selection process for Pakistani astronauts. After three rounds of rigorous screening, two Pakistani reserve astronauts were ultimately chosen.

China and Pakistan work jointly for peace

China and Pakistan have jointly launched a five-point peace initiative aimed at ending the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

The move came as the centrepiece of a March 31 visit to Beijing by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar for talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

At their meeting, Wang said that the mediation efforts of the Pakistani side regarding the conflict are in the common interests of all parties. China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation and resuming peace talks. China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to end the hostilities as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.

On bilateral ties, Wang said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, calling on both sides to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and constantly advance the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

For his part, Dar said the Pakistan-China friendship is precious and deeply rooted in people’s hearts, adding that Pakistan is willing to work with China to promote the continuous development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. He thanked China for supporting Pakistan’s mediation of the situation in Iran, adding that the current conflict has disrupted international energy supplies and caused heavy damage to developing countries.

Dar had earlier visited China, January 3-5. The two foreign ministers also held phone conversations on March 10 and March 27.

The five-point initiative calls for:

Immediate Cessation of Hostilities. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.

Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.

Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets and to fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.

Security of shipping lanes. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.

Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the UN, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realising lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.

At a Chinese Foreign Ministry press conference on April 1, spokesperson Mao Ning said that the initiative is open and all countries and international organisations are welcome to respond to and participate in it.

China working to restore peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan

A considerable period of rising tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan erupted into open and ongoing conflict on February 21. As a friendly neighbour to both countries China is actively working for the restoration of peace.

Accordingly, on March 10, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the latter’s request.

Given the overall situation, primary emphasis was given to the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, launched on February 28.

Wang Yi said that as all-weather strategic cooperative partners, China and Pakistan share a fine tradition of communication and coordination on major international and regional issues. Both countries have promptly expressed their firm stance on the situation in Iran, demonstrating a responsible attitude and commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The outbreak of this war lacks justification and legitimacy, and its continuation will only result in more unnecessary casualties. The key to preventing further escalation lies in the United States and Israel ceasing military operations.

The Chinese side appreciates Pakistan’s mediation efforts to de-escalate regional tensions and stands ready to maintain multilateral and bilateral coordination and cooperation with Pakistan, support Pakistan in continuing to play a constructive role, and jointly work toward the early restoration of peace and stability in the region.

Turning to the situation in Afghanistan, Wang Yi said that the special envoy on Afghan Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China is currently shuttling between Afghanistan and Pakistan to promote peace talks. The pressing priority is to prevent the escalation of the conflict and return to the negotiating table at an early date. The Chinese side firmly supports Pakistan in its counterterrorism efforts and hopes that Pakistan will continue to make the utmost efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.

This was followed by Wang Yi’s call with Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi on March 13, again at the latter’s request.

This conversation foregrounded the conflict between Kabul and Islamabad and Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi appreciated China’s active efforts to mediate in the border conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, stating that the Afghan people, having suffered greatly from war, cherish the opportunities for peace and development. Afghanistan aspires to be a source of regional peace rather than instability. The Afghan side reiterates that its territory will not be used to attack neighbouring countries, expresses no desire for military confrontation with other nations, and looks forward to mutual trust and friendly coexistence among neighbors. The Afghan side believes that dialogue and consultation are the only way to resolve issues and expects China, as a major country and friendly neighbour, to play an even greater role.

Wang Yi stated that the more turbulent the external environment becomes, the more regional countries should strengthen unity and cooperation to overcome difficulties together, forging a path of cooperative and common security. Afghanistan and Pakistan are inseparable brothers and neighbours that cannot be moved away from each other. Any issues between the two countries can only be resolved through dialogue and consultation. The use of force will only complicate the situation, exacerbate contradictions, benefit neither side, and threaten regional peace and stability. China has always maintained an objective and fair stance on the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict, and the special envoy on Afghan Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China is currently shuttling between Afghanistan and Pakistan to mediate, urging both sides to remain calm and exercise restraint, engage in face-to-face exchanges as soon as possible, achieve a ceasefire at the earliest opportunity, and resolve contradictions and differences through dialogue.

CPC delegation visits India and Pakistan

Sun Haiyan, Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), led a party delegation to visit India, January 12-14, and then visited Pakistan on January 15.

In India, the delegation met respectively with Vikram Misri, Indian Foreign Secretary, Arun Singh, National General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Salman Khurshid, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Indian National Congress (INC) and former Minister of External Affairs of India, and held collective exchanges with Indian left-wing leaders including D. Raja, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), G. Devarajan, General Secretary of All India Forward Bloc, and Arun Kumar, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM).

Vikram Misri said that under the joint guidance of the leaders of both countries, India-China relations have developed steadily, and exchanges and cooperation have made positive progress. India hopes to work with China to take positive measures to promote closer exchanges and cooperation in various fields and jointly create a favorable atmosphere. The website of India’s Ministry of External Affairs added that: “The discussions covered the progress made in stabilising and rebuilding bilateral ties with priority on business and people-centric engagements, and ways to take bilateral engagement forward in the new year. The Chinese side congratulated the Indian side on assuming the BRICS chairship this year and expressed its strong support for a successful BRICS Summit in India.”

Arun Singh said that the BJP hopes to strengthen dialogue with the CPC to enhance understanding and mutual trust and contribute to the development of relations between the two countries. For his part, Salman Khurshid said that the INC had made important contributions to promoting India-China friendship in history and believes that under the new circumstances, both sides should strengthen exchanges to jointly improve the well-being of the people of both countries.

Indian left-wing leaders expressed their firm support for India-China friendship and their hope of further strengthening inter-party relations and deepening exchanges and mutual learning with the CPC. Representatives from Indian think tanks, media, youth, and other sectors expressed their willingness to actively participate in and promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, as well as play a part in forming an objective and positive mutual understanding between the people of both countries.

The day after its meeting with the BJP, the CPC delegation also held a brief meeting with the leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is considered to be the ideological progenitor of the BJP and other organisations based on Hindu communalism. This, in turn, triggered a verbal spat between the BJP and INC, initiated by the latter, in which each sought to impugn the integrity of the other party’s engagements with China and specifically with the CPC. A summary of the dispute, which reflects the continued sensitivity and fragility of China-India relations, as reported in the Hindustan Times, may be read here.

Strategic dialogue enhances China-Pakistan friendship

Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, visited China from January 3-5, 2026 and co-chaired the Seventh Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart and host Wang Yi on January 4.

Following the dialogue a detailed Joint Press Communiqué was issued setting out its decisions. Among its key points are:

The two sides announced the launch of commemorative activities in 2026 celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, which will serve as an opportunity to consolidate China-Pakistan friendship and expand new areas of cooperation so that China-Pakistan friendship could grow from strength to strength and pass from generation to generation.

The two sides reaffirmed their unyielding support for each other on issues concerning their respective core interests. Pakistan reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle and reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Pakistan firmly supports every effort of China to achieve national reunification and opposes any form of “Taiwan independence” and any attempt to create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”

China reiterated its steadfast support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. China supports Pakistan in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and achieving economic prosperity and supports Pakistan in firmly combating terrorism and playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs.

The two sides agreed to further align their development plans and priorities and build an upgraded version 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative. The two sides agreed to focus on the three key sectors of industry, agriculture and mining, promote the building and operation of the Gwadar Port, ensure the smooth passage of the Karakoram Highway, and enhance Pakistan’s capacity for sustainable development. The two sides will deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, information technology, science and technology, cybersecurity, technical and vocational training and education, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

The two sides welcomed third-party participation in CPEC cooperation that conforms with the modalities set by China and Pakistan.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at their expanding space cooperation and for the expected early entrance of Pakistani astronauts into the China Space Station. They agreed to explore space in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner for greater economic and social development and prosperity.

The two sides agreed that it is essential to firmly uphold the outcomes of the victory of World War II, adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, reject attempts to distort historical facts, and oppose the plotted resurgence of fascism and militarism.

The two sides emphasised the importance of a South Asian regional order underpinned by the UN Charter, international law, and the basic norms governing international relations, reiterated opposition to any unilateral actions, and reaffirmed the significance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and the necessity of resolving all outstanding disputes through dialogue and consultation.

The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on its position on and latest developments of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. China reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is left over from history and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.

The two sides expressed readiness to continue leveraging the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue and the China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation mechanism to deliver new outcomes.

Pakistan highly commended China’s efforts to safeguard developing countries’ right to sustainable development.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over their cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and agreed to deepen coordination and collaboration to safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, their support for multilateralism and free trade, and their opposition to hegemonism, bullying behaviours violating national sovereignty of other countries, the forming of “small circles” and bloc confrontation.

China congratulated Pakistan on its outstanding performance during its UN Security Council presidency and expressed full support for Pakistan to work as the rotating president of the SCO from 2026 to 2027.

The two sides agreed to keep in close communication and coordination on the Afghan issue, work with the international community to encourage the Afghan government to build an inclusive political framework, adopt moderate policies, focus on development, pursue good-neighbourliness, and play a constructive role in helping Afghanistan achieve stable development and integrate into the international community. The two sides called for more visible and verifiable actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organisations based in Afghanistan which continue to pose serious threats to regional and global security and prevent terrorist organisations from using the Afghan territory for terrorism against any other country and to endanger any other country.

The two sides called for an unconditional, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for the implementation of the two-state solution with the establishment of an independent state of Palestine. The two sides also expressed their concern at the situation in the occupied West Bank and urged the need for urgently addressing it.

The two sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad next year on mutually convenient dates.

The following is the full text of the joint communiqué. It was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

Remembering Zulfikar Ali Bhutto – Architect of China-Pakistan Friendship

Third World Solidarity organised a meeting on Monday January 5, 2026, marking the 98^th birth anniversary of the late Pakistani leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who made an outstanding contribution to the friendship between his country and China.

The meeting, held in the Baseline Studios, home to a number of community organisations and projects in west London, was attended by many prominent members of the Pakistani community, and others who have been friends with members of the Bhutto family.

Chairing the meeting, Mushtaq Lasharie, Chair of Third World Solidarity, the British Pakistani Mayors Association and Lancaster West Residents Association, drew attention to the price that has often been paid by leaders of the Global South who stand for independence and popular democracy, from the martyrdom of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto, to today’s illegal kidnapping of Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife. This was also one of the themes that was returned to in the discussion period following the main speeches, in which Keith Bennett explained how the hand of US imperialism was present in all these cases, whether overtly or covertly.

The first speaker was London-based Pakistani journalist Javed Soomro, whose family has long had a close relationship with the Bhuttos. He explained that before Z.A. Bhutto founded and led the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), politics in the country had been confined to the feudal class and the boardrooms of the industrialists. The people were irrelevant. Bhutto was “the first to bring the voices of the masses and ordinary people” to the political arena. The basic slogan of the PPP was for clothes, food and shelter. [Note: In its simplicity and profundity this has echoes of the Bolshevik call for bread, peace and land.]

In 1974, he organised a major conference aimed at uniting the Muslim countries. This effort was key to the animosity that the United States came to harbour for Bhutto. [This has clear parallels with the way that the efforts of the late Hugo Chávez and President Maduro to unite the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean has intensified the hatred of the United States for the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela.]

Javed was followed by Keith Bennett, co-editor of Friends of Socialist China, who spoke on the great contributions of Z.A. Bhutto, as well as his daughter Benazir Bhutto and grandson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to Pakistan’s friendship with both the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The full text of Keith’s speech is reproduced below.

The final speaker was Victoria Schofield, author of ‘Bhutto: Trial and Execution’ (1979) and ‘The Fragrance of Tears: My Friendship with Benazir Bhutto’ (2020).

Victoria forged a close friendship with Benazir Bhutto when they were fellow students at Oxford University. With Benazir’s encouragement she succeeded her as President of the Oxford Union. She travelled to Pakistan in 1978, when Z.A. Bhutto was on trial and subsequently hanged, at Benazir’s invitation. She was one of the last people to see Bhutto alive and recalled how Benazir was not even allowed to hug her father on their last meeting, just a couple of days before he was executed.

She further recalled Bhutto’s vision for his country, as outlined to the Spectator:

“My vision is that of a Pakistan whose social standards are comparable to some parts of Europe. This means a war against illiteracy and ignorance. It means fighting prejudice and obscurantism. It involves the equality of men and women. It demands the mobilisation of the people’s selected energies. It dictates the restoration of dignity to the human person… It requires a check on the growth of population and easy access to education and medical care throughout the country. It contemplates better towns and cities and cleaner villages. It raises 100 challenges. It is a long haul. We have braced ourselves for it.”

Following a lively Q&A, closing remarks were delivered by Mian Saleem, President of PPP Greater London.

The formal proceedings were followed by two songs from Hugh Goodacre on guitar and dinner.

The following is the full text of Keith’s speech.