On September 22, 2025 in Islamabad, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani attended the Chinese embassy’s National Day reception as guest of honour, where diplomats, parliamentarians and civil society figures joined Ambassador Jiang Zaidong to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
In his address Mr Gillani extended warm congratulations from Pakistan’s parliament and people to the Chinese leadership and the Chinese people, noting the extraordinary progress China has made since 1949. He credited the Communist Party of China and successive leaders, including Mao Zedong and President Xi Jinping, for lifting millions out of poverty and guiding China to a global leadership position, calling these accomplishments nothing short of remarkable.
The chairman described Pakistan China ties as an all-weather strategic partnership and said the relationship goes beyond diplomacy to rest on mutual trust, shared values and people-to-people connections. He thanked China for steadfast support during natural disasters and crises, highlighting assistance after earthquakes, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence of the deep bond between the two countries.
Mr Gillani underlined defence and economic cooperation as cornerstones of the partnership, citing the JF-17 Thunder collaboration and the integration of J-10C fighters as symbols of strategic alignment. He reaffirmed the centrality of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor as a flagship project, calling CPEC more than infrastructure—an initiative for shared prosperity—and described Gwadar port as a gateway to trade and opportunity for the region.
Referring to President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit to Beijing, the chairman welcomed new agreements on a textile industrial park, livestock sector modernization and the supply of emergency equipment, saying these projects will contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth and public welfare. He also emphasised the role of cultural and educational links, including Confucius Institutes and scholarship programmes, in deepening ties at the grassroots level.
Paying tribute to architects of the relationship, Mr Gillani recalled the contributions of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan China ties to advance regional stability, economic integration and cooperative responses to global challenges. He concluded by thanking the Chinese ambassador and embassy for the reception and reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to further consolidate the strategic partnership.
