- Ishaq Dar, Liu Haixing Co-Chair Symposium on Party Building and Governance in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening political cooperation, strengthening institutional linkages and promoting exchanges between political parties as key pillars of their All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
The commitment was highlighted at the “Symposium on Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building and Seminar on China-Pakistan Governance,” co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Mr. Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
The event was jointly organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, bringing together political leaders, senior government officials, diplomats, academics and representatives of think tanks.
Ishaq Dar Highlights Political Consensus and Institutional Cooperation
Addressing the symposium, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar emphasised that the Pakistan-China relationship extends beyond conventional intergovernmental cooperation, drawing strength from sustained political understanding, institutional partnerships and close engagement between the two countries’ political parties.
He underscored the important role of political parties in effective governance, institution-building and national development, highlighting the broad-based political consensus that underpins the enduring friendship between Islamabad and Beijing.
Dar called for enhanced party-to-party exchanges and mutual learning to further consolidate the bilateral partnership. He also stressed that political consensus and continuity would be essential to advancing the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with a focus on sustainable development and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Liu Haixing Highlights China’s Governance Experience
In his keynote address, Mr. Liu Haixing expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s leadership and its efforts to promote exchanges between political parties as a means of deepening bilateral cooperation.
He outlined the role of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building in strengthening the Communist Party of China, enhancing institutional governance and supporting national development. He highlighted party discipline, anti-corruption measures, people-centred governance and institutional capacity as important elements of China’s governance experience.
Liu also reaffirmed the longstanding political trust between Pakistan and China as the two countries prepare to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He highlighted the establishment of the Pakistan-China Research Centre for Party and State Governance as an important platform for sustained dialogue, research and cooperation.
President Zardari Reaffirms Enduring Pakistan-China Friendship
Senator Sherry Rehman conveyed a congratulatory message from President Asif Ali Zardari, reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding friendship with China and underscoring the importance of mutual trust, political consensus and institutional cooperation.
The presidential message highlighted opportunities to expand cooperation under the next phase of CPEC, particularly in industrial development, agriculture, technology, connectivity and employment generation.
It also emphasised the importance of strengthening bilateral engagement to deliver tangible benefits for the people of both countries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Calls for Greater Governance Cooperation
Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar also read out a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, which acknowledged China’s achievements under the leadership of President Xi Jinping.
The message highlighted people-centred governance, institutional integrity and accountability as important considerations in national development. It called for enhanced cooperation in governance, leadership training and the implementation of CPEC Phase II.
Meanwhile, Senator Anusha Rahman, Additional Secretary General of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), conveyed a message from former prime minister and PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
The message underscored the importance of inter-party dialogue, institutional cooperation and political consensus in further strengthening Pakistan-China relations and advancing CPEC.
Ahsan Iqbal Highlights Lessons for Pakistan’s Development
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal highlighted key lessons Pakistan could draw from China’s development experience, including people-centred governance, accountability, strong institutions and long-term strategic planning.
He emphasised that political cooperation, youth engagement and exchanges on governance could contribute significantly to Pakistan’s national development agenda, particularly through the UDAAN Pakistan initiative and CPEC 2.0.
He also highlighted the value of sustained institutional collaboration in promoting economic transformation, innovation and inclusive growth.
PPP Calls for Expanded Political and Research Exchanges
Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari, Secretary General of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), highlighted the party’s historical role in strengthening Pakistan-China relations.
He called for expanded exchanges among political parties, particularly in leadership development, research, technology, agriculture and other areas of mutual interest.
Bukhari also welcomed the establishment of the Pakistan-China Research Centre for Party and State Governance, describing institutional dialogue and shared learning as valuable avenues for advancing bilateral cooperation.
Mushahid Hussain Sayed Describes Symposium as a Historic Initiative
Former senator and Chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, described the symposium as a significant initiative for strengthening political engagement and promoting a deeper understanding of governance models.
He emphasised the importance of people-centred governance, effective leadership and institutional capacity in achieving sustainable national development.
The symposium provided an opportunity for political representatives and policy experts to exchange views on governance, party development and the role of political institutions in advancing national priorities.
Regional Political Leaders Share Governance Perspectives
The symposium also featured recorded messages from political leaders from Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives. Their contributions explored different perspectives on party building, governance, accountability and mutual learning.
The event was attended by Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, representatives of various political parties and think tanks, senior government officials, diplomats and academics.
Advancing Pakistan-China Cooperation Through Political Understanding
The symposium underscored the importance of political dialogue and institutional cooperation in sustaining the Pakistan-China partnership as it enters a new phase of engagement.
With the next stage of CPEC placing greater emphasis on economic cooperation, industrial development, agriculture, technology and connectivity, exchanges between political parties and governance institutions are expected to provide additional avenues for sharing experiences and strengthening bilateral understanding.
The initiative also reflects the shared interest of Pakistan and China in maintaining close political coordination, promoting effective governance and translating their longstanding friendship into practical benefits for their respective peoples.
BY: The Times Union
