Islamabad: The Pakistan-China Friendship Group in Parliament held its first meeting on Tuesday at the Parliament House under the convenership of Senator Sherry Rehman, reaffirming the 'all-weather, time-tested iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and the People's Republic of China.'
The meeting brought together senior parliamentarians from across Pakistan and a high-level Chinese delegation led by Ambassador Jiang Zaidong.
Opening the session, Senator Sherry Rehman welcomed the delegation, describing the Friendship Group as 'a high-level parliamentary platform dedicated to enhancing our historic and strategic relations with our most trusted friend, China.' She expressed appreciation for China's unwavering support to Pakistan in all spheres, extending special gratitude to President Xi Jinping for his visionary leadership that shaped CPEC Phases 1.0 and 2.0, bringing more than $56 billion in investment.
Senator Rehman emphasized that Pakistan's friendship with China, rooted since 1951, has stood firm through regional and global shifts. 'China's success in lifting 800 million people out of poverty offers powerful lessons for Pakistan as we focus on poverty alleviation and agricultural resilience amid climate challenges,' she noted.
She lauded President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for deepening bilateral cooperation and strengthening ties with China, describing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as the cornerstone of Pakistan's economic transformation. She also called for expanded people-to-people exchanges, business forums, and academic collaborations to promote mutual understanding.
Highlighting key areas of cooperation, Senator Rehman praised China's support in the Karakoram Highway expansion, counter-terrorism, poverty alleviation, and Pakistan's stance on Kashmir. She urged joint efforts on water management with India and underscored shared concerns on global issues such as climate change, poverty, terrorism, and artificial intelligence.
Focusing on agriculture, she said China's cooperation could be 'revolutionary and transformative' for Pakistan's rural economy. 'China's agricultural cooperation is not merely an exchange of technology - it is a new chapter in rural empowerment,' she added, envisioning joint progress in agro-innovation, seed technology, water-efficient farming, and farmer training.
Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, in his remarks, appreciated the participation of senators from all regions of Pakistan and reaffirmed that the strategic partnership between China and Pakistan will continue to grow stronger. He commended President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for their leadership, noting that both countries remain united in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said China's 15th Five-Year Plan lays the foundation for joint progress in combating climate change and driving economic transformation. Highlighting agricultural cooperation as 'the heart of poverty alleviation,' he announced China's support through agricultural machinery, scientific planning, and a five-year framework for industrial growth, employment, and rural development.
Ambassador Jiang also unveiled plans for 100 hospitals in Balochistan, new economic zones, and technical training initiatives, including expanded student exchange programs. He reiterated that China's support for Pakistan remains 'unwavering in all times and under all circumstances.'
Concluding the session, Senator Sherry Rehman expressed gratitude to the Chinese delegation, saying, 'We are proud to share one of the world's most enduring friendships. As China leads the world in sustainable development, Pakistan looks forward to expanding cooperation in agriculture, water management, and economic modernization.'
The meeting was attended by Senators Naseema Ehsan, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Ashraf Ali Jatoi, Faisal Saleem Rahman, Munzoor Ahmed, Bushra Anjum Butt, Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Dilawar Khan, Haji Hidayat Ullah Abdul Qadir, and Waqar Mehdi, among others.