Karachi, November 10, 2026: Acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Karachi, Feng Deheng, called on Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Syed Awais Qadir Shah, at his office at the Sindh Assembly today. The meeting focused on Pakistan-China relations, recent high-level visits and opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

Secretary Provincial Assembly of Sindh, G.M. Umar Farooq, and Director General Media, Irfan Ahmed Memon, accompanied the Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Syed Awais Qadir Shah.

Recalling his tenure as Provincial Minister for Transport, the Speaker shared that he had approached the Chinese Consul General at the time to facilitate the procurement and timely arrival of Red Buses for Karachi. Appreciating the cooperation extended by the Chinese Consulate and Chinese companies, he said their support had helped advance Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s vision of modernising Karachi’s public transport system.

During the meeting, both sides discussed new avenues of cooperation in the context of the recent visits to China by President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah. The Speaker also recalled his participation in the ceremony commemorating 75 years of Pakistan-China friendship.

Acting Chinese Consul General Feng Deheng briefed the Speaker on the China-Pakistan Information Corridor (CPIC), explaining that the initiative would promote media cooperation, information exchange, fact-checking, research, business and cultural linkages, while also helping counter misinformation and negative narratives.

Highlighting cooperation in space exploration, he described Pakistan’s participation in China’s Shenzhou-24 crewed space mission as a significant development, under which a Pakistani astronaut is set to become the first foreign national to visit China’s Tiangong Space Station.

Both sides emphasised the need for effective implementation of the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and regular coordination to ensure progress on agreed initiatives. The proposed establishment of sister-city ties between Sukkur and Yichang, China, was also discussed. The Speaker expressed particular interest in the initiative, noting that Sukkur is his hometown, where he was born and elected as a Member of the Provincial Assembly. He also expressed gratitude for China’s assistance in the rehabilitation of Sukkur Barrage, describing it as vital to Sindh’s irrigation system and agricultural economy.

The meeting also featured discussions on establishing a Parliamentary Friendship Group between the Provincial Assembly of Sindh and the relevant Chinese legislature. The Speaker said that, following the model of the National Assembly, the proposed group would aim to promote parliamentary exchanges, share legislative best practices, facilitate training and capacity building, and encourage exchange visits between the two sides. Both sides also discussed the proposed group’s Terms of Reference (ToRs), structure and future course of action.

The Speaker emphasised the importance of training programmes, fellowships and study visits for young parliamentarians, stating that emerging political leaders should be provided opportunities to benefit from parliamentary and international exposure. He observed that the longstanding Pakistan-China friendship, established during the tenure of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Chairman Mao Zedong, had grown stronger with time, adding that all major institutions of Pakistan regard China as a trusted friend.

The Acting Chinese Consul General also briefed the Speaker on improved coordination between the two sides following the Chief Minister Sindh’s visit to China and the progress being pursued on agreed projects. The Speaker assured him that his office would extend full cooperation in facilitating coordination with relevant government institutions to advance initiatives of mutual interest.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Syed Awais Qadir Shah, presented the Acting Chinese Consul General with a commemorative shield of the Sindh Assembly, a Sindhi Topi and an Ajrak as tokens of appreciation.