VIENNA/
ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended warm greetings to China on the occasion of Chinese New Year 2026, reaffirming the depth of the longstanding ‘iron-clad’ friendship and pledging to further strengthen their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
The two leaders issued separate messages marking the beginning of the Year of the Horse.
In a message from the Presidency, President Zardari extended his heartfelt felicitations to the people, government and leadership of the People’s Republic of China.
“On the joyous occasion of Chinese New Year, ushering in the auspicious Year of the Horse, I extend my heartfelt felicitations to the people, the Government and the leadership of the People’s Republic of China. The Year of the Horse is traditionally associated with energy, progress and resilience. These qualities reflect the spirit of renewal and forward movement that defines this festival and resonate strongly with the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China.”
President Zardari said that 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, established in 1951. Over more than seven decades, he said, Pakistan and China have built an All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership grounded in mutual respect, trust and shared purpose.
“This iron-clad friendship has remained steadfast through changing global circumstances and continues to be a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Pakistan’s all-weather friendship with China is rooted in history. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the last international leader to meet Chairman Mao Zedong, a moment that symbolised the confidence and strategic understanding that have guided our relations ever since,” the president said.
PM Shehbaz, currently on a two-day visit to Austria, began his message on X with the traditional greeting “Gong Xi Fa Cai”, meaning “congratulations and may you prosper”, before extending heartfelt wishes to President Xi Jinping, the people of China and Chinese communities worldwide.
“As we welcome the Chinese New Year 2026 – the Year of the Horse – I extend my heartfelt greetings to President Xi Jinping, the brotherly people of China, and to Chinese communities around the world,” he wrote.
Referring to the zodiac’s 12-year cycle, represented by 12 animals, the prime minister noted that the Horse symbolises energy, resilience and speed – values that resonate deeply with Pakistan and China’s shared journey.
He said the two countries were iron brothers bound by an All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and a shared vision of peace, development and regional connectivity.
