Islamabad: Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has formally accepted the Honorary Chairmanship of the Pakistan-China Research Center for Party and State Governance, reaffirming his commitment to promoting parliamentary cooperation, institutional exchanges, policy research, and mutual learning between Pakistan and China.

According to Press Information Department, Mr. Gilani addressed the inauguration ceremony of the Pakistan-China Research Center for Party and State Governance as the Chief Guest and expressed his gratitude for being invited to serve as its Honorary Chairman. He highlighted the importance of the Center as an institutional platform for research, policy dialogue, and cooperation, bringing together scholars, universities, think tanks, public institutions, and parliamentary forums of both countries.

The Chairman Senate emphasized that the Center would strengthen Pakistan-China cooperation by bridging the gap between research and policymaking. In his role as Honorary Chairman, he committed to encouraging greater engagement between the Center and parliamentary institutions, promoting exchanges among parliamentarians, policymakers, academics, and younger generations of both countries.

Mr. Gilani acknowledged the visit of Leo Hye-shing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and his delegation to Pakistan. He noted that China’s governance experience offered valuable insights for strengthening Pakistan’s legislative and policy institutions.

Referring to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, Mr. Gilani mentioned the Senate of Pakistan’s commemoration of this milestone through a unanimous resolution, describing the relationship as an enduring partnership based on mutual trust and respect.

Recalling past engagements with Chinese leadership, he noted welcoming Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan’s Parliament in 2010, reflecting the depth of bilateral parliamentary relations. Highlighting China’s achievements in areas like poverty reduction and digital governance, Mr. Gilani stressed the opportunities for academic research and institutional learning.

On economic cooperation, he observed that CPEC 2.0 offered opportunities in sectors such as agriculture and information technology, stressing the importance of translating these into tangible outcomes. Mr. Gilani concluded his address by underscoring the shared responsibility of nurturing the Pakistan-China friendship for future generations.