ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday visited Shaoshan, the hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong, where he laid a wreath at the statue of Chairman Mao at Statue Square and paid tribute to China’s revolutionary leader.
The president was received by Li Jiyang, senior party leader of Xiangtan People’s Congress and Zhang Xihui, director of the Shaoshan Administration Bureau of Hunan Province, who apprised him of the life and struggle of Mao Zedong, highlighting his early years in Shaoshan and the influences that shaped his political thought. The president was also briefed on the role of memorial institutions in preserving historical material and promoting public understanding of China’s revolutionary history.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, the president visited the Mao Zedong Memorial Museum, where he was briefed on the life, thought and political legacy of the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China. He viewed historical artefacts, archival material and exhibits documenting key phases of China’s revolutionary history. He paid tribute to Mao Zedong’s role in China’s historical transformation and acknowledged his contribution to the country’s struggle, unity and development. He noted that the preservation of such sites offers insight into the forces that shaped modern China and underscores the importance of historical memory in national progress. Later, the president arrived in Sanya after completing his visit to Hunan. Upon arrival, he was received by Wang Qiyang, party secretary of the CPC Hainan.
Meanwhile, the president felicitated the armed forces on the successful test of indigenously developed Fatah-II missile system. In an announcement from the Aiwan-e-Sadr, he lauded the technical expertise and dedication of scientists and engineers involved in strengthening the country’s advanced defence capabilities. He emphasised that the promotion of indigenous technology is essential to making national defence impregnable, underscoring the importance of self-reliance in strategic sectors. He commended the efforts of armed forces and relevant institutions for their continued contributions towards bolstering the country’s defence preparedness.
