Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said China’s remarkable transformation under the Communist Party of China (CPC) demonstrates the value of effective governance, strong institutions and long-term planning, while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to its strategic partnership with Beijing.
Gilani made the remarks while addressing a commemorative seminar organised by the Pakistan-China Economic and Cultural Council to mark the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. The event was attended by senior politicians, parliamentarians, diplomats, policy experts and representatives of the Chinese Embassy.
He said the CPC had displayed exceptional institutional resilience over more than a century, steering China through unprecedented economic growth and lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, achievements that have made a significant contribution to global development.
Referring to President Xi Jinping’s “Thought on Party Building,” Gilani said its emphasis on self-reform, institutional accountability and anti-corruption efforts offers valuable lessons for political parties and public institutions, particularly across the Global South. He added that lasting institutions must remain accountable to citizens, continuously reform themselves and convert political stability into tangible public welfare.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s close ties with China, Gilani described the relationship as an “Iron Brotherhood” founded on mutual trust, shared interests and strategic cooperation. He paid tribute to the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai for laying the foundations of the bilateral partnership.
He said cooperation between the two countries had expanded across defence, trade, infrastructure, education, healthcare and cultural exchanges. Gilani also described the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a key driver of regional connectivity and economic growth and thanked China for its continued support during natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The acting president said both countries have significant opportunities to deepen cooperation in trade, technology, clean energy and parliamentary exchanges. He also congratulated the organisers of the seminar and extended warm greetings to the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people on behalf of Pakistan on the party’s 105th founding anniversary.
The seminar also featured addresses by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong and Pakistan-China Economic and Cultural Council President Bayazeed Burhanullah Kasi. Presentations on the history and evolution of the Communist Party of China were also delivered during the event.