President Zardari departs for China on official visit

ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has left for China on an official visit at the invitation of the Chinese government, the Spokesperson of the Presidency confirmed.

According to the spokesperson, President Zardari will visit various regions of China from September 12 to 21. During the visit, he will hold meetings with provincial leadership in Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xinjiang.

The discussions will focus on Pakistan-China relations, economic and trade cooperation, as well as future collaboration under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The Presidency further stated that the visit will strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China.

Highlighting the significance of the visit, the spokesperson noted that it reflects Pakistan’s commitment to peace, development, and stability in the region.

On the other hand, a landmark agreement has been signed between the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and leading Chinese companies to strengthen the skills and capacity of Pakistani engineers.

Under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistani engineers will receive hands-on training. The program includes opportunities for exchange, Chinese language learning, and exposure to international engineering practices.

Over the next five years, 100 Pakistani engineers will be trained at the Thar Coal Project. Pakistani engineers will also be sent to China for specialized training in the energy sector. A special scholarship fund worth Rs350 million will be established.

In five years, 175 deserving students will receive scholarships. Engineers will be offered online Chinese language courses.

PEC Chairman described the agreement as a milestone for the practical training of Pakistani engineers, providing them with international exposure and language-learning opportunities.

Engineer Waseem Nazir emphasized that the agreement will open new career pathways for Pakistani engineers and play a vital role in meeting the country’s energy and industrial needs.

The agreement involves Thar Coal Block-1 Power Generation Company, Sino Sindh Resources, and Shanghai Electric Engineering Consulting Company.

The MoU was signed during the Prime Minister’s visit to China at a business-to-business (B2B) conference, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy and engineering sectors.