President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in China just past midnight on Saturday, for a trip where he will attend engagements related to economic and trade cooperation, as well as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to a statement from his office, the president arrived in Changsha and was received by Hu Xusheng, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial People’s Congress.

“[The] ambassadors of China in Pakistan and Pakistan in China were also present on the occasion,” the President’s Secretariat said.

Earlier in the day, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider had seen off the president at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, state-run PTV said.

According to the Foreign Office (FO), the president will travel to Hunan province’s Changsha from April 25 to 27, and then to Hainan province’s Sanya from April 28 to May 1.

“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.

The FO added that the 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”.

It further said the trip reflects the “deep commitment” of both sides to further strengthen the strategic cooperative partnership.

Last year, President Asif Ali Zardari visited China on a 10-day official trip, during which he met the Chinese leadership and senior officials to further strengthen Pakistan–China relations, enhance cooperation in diverse fields, and advance shared objectives.

During the visit, six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the Sindh government and business-to-business (B2B) partners in sectors such as agriculture, defence, energy, rail links, and farmer training. These initiatives were later planned to be extended to other provinces.