Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari, accompanied by First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, visited the Memorial of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Shanghai.
The memorial, situated in Shanghai’s former French Concession, marks the location of the CPC’s inaugural congress in July 1921. The President explored the original building and the accompanying exhibition featuring artifacts and records.
The site commemorates the gathering of 13 leaders, including Chairman Mao Zedong, 104 years ago, which established the CPC. The party subsequently led China to independence, alleviated poverty and underdevelopment, and transformed the nation into a prominent global force.
President Zardari, in the visitor’s log, expressed honor at visiting the landmark and conveyed Pakistan’s admiration for China’s rise. He emphasized the nations’ “all-weather” partnership, fostered by President Xi Jinping’s leadership, and predicted continued growth in bilateral relations.
Zardari commended the site’s preservation, highlighting its value in understanding the formative events of modern China. The memorial is a nationally recognized heritage site and a key historical attraction in Shanghai.
Also in attendance were Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Information and Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon, Sindh P and D and Energy Minister Syed Nasir Shah, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi.