China-Pakistan friendship, development experience highlighted at Lahore ceremony

Chinese Consul General in Lahore Li Yining and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan on Thursday highlighted

Lahore : Chinese Consul General in Lahore Li Yining and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan on Thursday highlighted the longstanding China-Pakistan friendship, economic cooperation, peace and development during a ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The event was attended by diplomats and representatives from several countries, including Iran, Türkiye and the United States, along with other distinguished guests.

The presence of diplomats from countries with differing international positions created a notable atmosphere at the ceremony. Iranian and US diplomats were seen exchanging greetings and sharing the same table during the event, reflecting the cordial environment of the gathering.

Speaking at the ceremony, Consul General Li Yining said China and Pakistan had maintained close relations for more than seven decades, with their friendship developing into a strong tradition of cooperation and mutual support.

He said China welcomed Pakistan’s progress in national development and its growing role in international affairs. According to Li, the leadership of both countries had reached important understandings aimed at building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

He said visits by Pakistani leaders and official delegations to China had played an important role in strengthening bilateral cooperation and people-to-people contacts.

The consul general noted that practical cooperation between the two countries had continued to expand, particularly in agriculture, industry and mining. He said bilateral coordination also remained strong at multilateral forums, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Li said China supported dialogue and consultation as means of promoting peace and stability in the international community. He added that Beijing and Islamabad were working to further strengthen their friendship and support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests.

He said China was prepared to better align its 15th Five-Year Plan with Pakistan’s development priorities and major initiatives, expressing confidence that the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries would continue to expand.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, who was the chief guest, spoke about China’s development experience and said Pakistan could draw lessons from its progress in governance, poverty reduction and local development.

Recalling his visit to China as part of a University of the Punjab delegation, Khan said the delegation observed development across villages, towns, cities and the capital, as well as the country’s international institutions.

He particularly recalled visiting a small mountainous village that, according to him, had undergone significant transformation over roughly two decades. Local residents had developed businesses, restaurants and other economic activities, while traditional village products were being prepared for wider markets.

Khan said he had asked who made decisions and collected taxes at the local level and was told that local communities played a role in both processes. He said the experience highlighted the importance of empowered local governments and grassroots participation in development.

The speaker stressed that good governance should translate into direct benefits for ordinary citizens and provide communities with greater participation in decisions affecting their lives.

He also praised China’s achievements in science, medicine and digital development, saying its experience demonstrated how sustained development could transform communities.

Referring to China’s poverty reduction efforts, Khan said around 800 million people had been lifted out of poverty over several decades.

He said development required more than administrative reforms, stressing the importance of inclusion, empowerment and meaningful grassroots participation.

The ceremony concluded with messages of friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and China, followed by a meal featuring Chinese cuisine and informal interaction among diplomats and other guests.