Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will visit China from April 25 to May 1 to discuss bilateral ties with an emphasis on economic and trade cooperation and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to a Foreign Office statement, he will be in Changsha, Hunan province, from April 25–27 and in Sanya, Hainan province, from April 28–May 1, holding meetings with provincial leaders to advance collaboration in commerce and infrastructure.
The Foreign Office said the trip highlights both countries’ commitment to deepen their long-standing, “all-weather” strategic cooperative partnership. The visit also carries symbolic weight as Pakistan and China mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
The trip comes amid media speculation about a potential second round of talks between Iran and the United States to be held in Pakistan. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday for discussions with Pakistani officials. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said US Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner were also set to travel to Pakistan to engage with members of the Iranian delegation. There has been no official confirmation that direct talks between Washington and Tehran will take place during the current visits.
