Report: ANI
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar co-chaired the “Symposium on Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building and Seminar on China-Pakistan Governance” with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in Islamabad.
The event was jointly organised by the Embassy of China and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) at the Marriott Hotel.
Addressing the symposium, Senator Ishaq Dar said Pakistan-China relations were based not only on intergovernmental cooperation but also on sustained political understanding, institutional linkages and exchanges between political parties.
He highlighted the important role of political parties in governance, institution-building and national development, stressing the need for closer party-to-party exchanges and mutual learning to strengthen the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. He also underscored the importance of political consensus and continuity for advancing the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
In his keynote address, Liu Haixing highlighted the role of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building in strengthening the CPC, institutional governance and national development. He emphasised party discipline, anti-corruption measures, people-centred governance and institutional capacity.
He also referred to the longstanding political trust between Pakistan and China as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He highlighted the establishment of the Pakistan-China Research Centre for Party and State Governance as a platform for dialogue and cooperation.
Senator Sherry Rehman conveyed the congratulatory message of President Asif Ali Zardari, reaffirming Pakistan's longstanding friendship with China and emphasising mutual trust, political consensus and institutional cooperation. The message also highlighted enhanced cooperation under CPEC's next phase in industrial development, agriculture, technology, connectivity and employment.
Senator Ishaq Dar also read out the congratulatory message of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, which appreciated China's achievements under President Xi Jinping and stressed people-centred governance, institutional integrity and accountability. The message called for greater cooperation in governance, leadership training and CPEC Phase II.
Senator Anusha Rahman, Additional Secretary General of PML-N, conveyed a message from former Prime Minister and PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, emphasising inter-party dialogue, institutional cooperation and political consensus to advance CPEC and bilateral relations.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal highlighted key lessons from China's development experience, including people-centred governance, accountability, strong institutions and long-term national planning. He also stressed political cooperation, youth engagement and governance exchanges to advance UDAAN Pakistan and CPEC 2.0.
PPP Secretary General Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari highlighted the party's historical role in strengthening Pakistan-China relations and called for expanded exchanges between political parties in leadership development, research, technology and agriculture.
Former Senator and Pakistan-China Institute Chairman Mushahid Hussain Sayed described the symposium as an important initiative, highlighting the significance of people-centred governance, effective leadership and institutional capacity.
The symposium also featured recorded messages from political leaders from Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives, who shared their perspectives on party-building, governance, accountability and mutual learning.
Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, representatives of political parties and think tanks, senior government officials, diplomats and academics also attended the event.
