ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, who is currently on an official visit to China, on Tuesday visited Shaoshan, hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China.

During the visit, President Zardari laid a wreath at Statue Square and paid tribute to China’s revolutionary leader.

Earlier, the president was received by Li Jiyang, senior party leader of Xiangtan People’s Congress, and Ms Zhang Xihui, director of the Shaoshan Administration Bureau of Hunan Province, who apprised him of the life and struggle of Chairman Mao Zedong, highlighting his early years in Shaoshan and the influences that shaped his political thought.

The president was also briefed on the role of memorial institutions in preserving historical material and promoting public understanding of China’s revolutionary history. Follow­ing the wreath-laying ceremony, the president visited the Mao Ze­­dong Memorial Muse­um, where he was briefed on the life, thought and political legacy of the founding leader of China.

Arrives in trade hub of Sanya; will attend commissioning of Pakistan Navy submarine

President Zardari paid tribute to Chairman Mao Zedong’s role in China’s historical transformation and acknowledged his contribution to the country’s str­uggle, unity and development.

Later, he arrived in Sanya, a city in the Hainan province which is a globally recognised tourist destination, and also plays a key role in the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

During his visit, President Zardari is expected to hold discussions with the provincial leadership on enhancing economic, trade, and strategic cooperation, as well as advancing progress on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The president will also attend the commissioning ceremony of Pakistan Navy submarine ‘Hangor’ in Sanya.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026