ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman warmly welcomed Chinese Vice Premier. He Lifeng on behalf of Pakistan Peoples' Party to participate in 10th anniversary celebrations of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

"CPEC has been an important milestone in strengthening our bilateral relations," Minister said while sharing her heartfelt welcome note on her official twitter handle account for visiting dignitary.

Senator Rehman said her party was proud of lasting friendship between Pakistan and China which was founded by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Chairman Mao Zedong.

She accorded credit of CPEC as proud project to President Xi Jinping and former President Asif Ali Zardari. Zardari made his first diplomatic visit to China after assuming office of President to further strengthen bilateral relations established by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, she said.

"He (Asif Ali Zardari) visited China four times in first year (of his tenure). He visited China several times during his tenure as President. Even after leaving presidency, he visited China along with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to enhance progress of CPEC, which is why Chinese government named him (Zardari) founder of CPEC," Senator Sherry said. She regretted that CPEC suffered slowdown due to previous incompetent government.