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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived Thursday in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, the foreign office said, kicking off a 10-day official visit aimed at strengthening economic and trade relations between Pakistan and China. Zardari was welcomed at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Sichuan Vice Governor Huang Rishia. Pakistan Ambassador to China Khalid Hashmi and his Chinese counterpart, Jiang Zaidong, were also present to receive him. The trip, which runs from September 12 to September 21, comes just days after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded a separate visit to China, where Islamabad signed investment deals and joint ventures worth $8.5 billion. According to Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office, Zardari&rsquo;s itinerary includes visits to Chengdu, Shanghai, and the Xinjiang Uygur, where he will meet with top Chinese officials and provincial leaders. Talks will focus on bilateral economic and trade cooperation, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and future connectivity projects. China is Pakistan&rsquo;s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $25 billion in recent years. Beijing has invested heavily in Pakistani infrastructure, energy, transport, and telecom sectors, primarily through the CPEC initiative. The visit is also expected to reinforce the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, a longstanding alliance centered on economic collaboration, regional security, and shared geopolitical interests. &ldquo;The visit will reaffirm both countries&rsquo; support for each other&rsquo;s core interests and highlight their commitment to regional peace and stability,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said in a statement. Zardari&rsquo;s meetings are aimed at deepening cooperation across a range of sectors and showcasing Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to its strategic partnership with China at a time of growing economic and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zarari (2R) arrives at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Foreign Affairs

President Asif Ali Zardari began a 10-day visit to China to strengthen economic and trade ties, with meetings in Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xinjiang. Talks will focus on CPEC, investment, and regional cooperation, reinforcing the Pakistan-China strategic partnership.

Articles tagged with "CPEC 2.0"

Pakistan president in China for 10-Day visit to boost economic, trade ties