ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari conferred Hilal-i-Pakistan award on Dai Bingguo, State Councillor of China, at a special investiture ceremony at the Presidency on Saturday.
The ceremony was attended among others by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Senate Chairman Farooq H Naik, Speaker of the National Assembly Fehmida Mirza, Azad Kashmir President Sardar Yaqub, federal ministers, Senators, Services Chiefs, members of the National Assembly, federal secretaries and other dignitaries.
The citation read on the occasion said that Mr Dai Bingguo is a member of CPC Central Committee since 1977 and State Councillor since March 2008.
It said Dai Bingguo “has contributed immensely to promote the cause of global peace, security and prosperity in the world. He has also made an outstanding contribution to Pak-China friendship and strategic cooperative partnership. Under his able and dynamic leadership the unique friendship that exists between Pakistan and China continues to touch new heights, blossom and prosper.”
In recognition of his meritorious services to the cause of Pak-China friendship, the president is pleased to confer Hilal-i- Pakistan on Dai Bingguo, the citation said.
Later the president also hosted a dinner in the honour of the Chinese State Councillor.
