Shaoshan, Hunan, China: President Asif Ali Zardari visited the hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong in Shaoshan, where he laid a wreath at the statue of the Chinese revolutionary leader at Statue Square, honoring his contributions to the country’s history.

According to Press Information Department, President Zardari was welcomed by Li Jiyang, a senior party leader of the Xiangtan People’s Congress, and Zhang Xihui, Director of the Shaoshan Administration Bureau of Hunan Province. They provided the President with insights into the early life and political development of Mao Zedong in Shaoshan, focusing on the influences that shaped his revolutionary ideology.

During his visit, the President received a briefing on the significance of memorial institutions in the preservation of historical materials and the promotion of public understanding of China’s revolutionary past.

After the wreath-laying ceremony, President Zardari toured the Mao Zedong Memorial Museum. He examined historical artifacts, archival materials, and exhibits that document significant phases of China’s revolutionary history. The President acknowledged Mao Zedong’s pivotal role in China’s transformation and his contributions to the nation’s struggle, unity, and development. He emphasized the importance of preserving such sites to enhance understanding of the historical forces that have shaped modern China.

Accompanying President Zardari were Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh senior minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Ali Hassan Brohi, Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Chief Secretary Sindh, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi.