Gilani pledges stronger Pakistan-China cooperation through governance research, parliamentary exchanges

Liaquat Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan and China are looking to broaden their longstanding strategic partnership through institutional learning, governance research and parliamentary exchanges, with Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani accepting the honorary chairmanship of a newly established Pakistan-China research centre to advance cooperation in these areas.

The Pakistan-China Research Center for Party and State Governance, established by the Pakistan-China Economic and Cultural Council (PCECC), is envisaged as a platform bringing together policymakers, parliamentarians, universities, scholars, think tanks and public institutions from both countries to promote research, exchange governance experiences and develop practical policy solutions.

Addressing the centre’s inauguration ceremony as chief guest, Gilani said closer institutional engagement and knowledge-sharing could help Pakistan benefit from China’s experience in economic transformation, public administration, poverty reduction, rural development and digital governance.

He said the research centre would help connect academic research with policymaking while creating opportunities for sustained interaction between parliamentary institutions and younger generations in Pakistan and China.

Accepting the honorary position, Gilani pledged to encourage stronger links between the centre and the Senate of Pakistan, particularly through exchanges involving parliamentarians, policymakers, academics and governance experts.

Welcoming Leo Hye-shing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and his delegation, the Senate chairman highlighted China’s achievements in long-term planning, institutional development and economic growth, describing these experiences as valuable areas for research and mutual learning.

He said Pakistan’s parliamentary institutions could benefit from greater exposure to international governance practices, particularly in strengthening legislative capacity, oversight mechanisms and evidence-based policymaking.

Referring to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, Gilani said the Senate had adopted a unanimous resolution to commemorate the milestone, reaffirming the enduring nature of bilateral friendship, which he said transcended political affiliations and social backgrounds.

He recalled his earlier engagements with Chinese leadership, including welcoming Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to the Parliament of Pakistan in 2010 during his tenure as prime minister and receiving a high-level delegation of China’s National People’s Congress during his tenure as chairman Senate.

These exchanges, he said, reflected the continuity of parliamentary engagement and the importance both countries attached to strengthening institutional relations.

Linking institutional cooperation with economic development, Gilani said the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0) offered considerable scope for expanding collaboration in agriculture, industrial development, information technology, innovation, green growth and regional connectivity.

He stressed that bilateral cooperation should increasingly translate into tangible benefits through investment, employment generation, skills development and improved living standards.

The Senate chairman also visited a photographic exhibition tracing the history of Pakistan-China relations, describing it as a reflection of the trust, mutual respect and people-to-people connections underpinning the bilateral partnership.

Recalling his family’s longstanding association with China, he said his father had visited the country in 1956 as a member of Pakistan’s first Constituent Assembly, calling the historical connection a legacy that should be passed on to future generations.

Gilani said Pakistan-China friendship was not simply a historical inheritance but a responsibility requiring continued efforts to strengthen cooperation and deepen mutual understanding.

“Our friendship is a legacy, but its future is a shared responsibility,” he remarked, expressing confidence that the research centre would provide fresh momentum to bilateral engagement by promoting institutional cooperation, policy research and exchanges of expertise.