Pakistan and China Strengthen Agricultural Cooperation

In this picture taken on September 1, 2022 a labourer picks cotton in a field at Sammu Khan Bhanbro village in Sukkur, Sindh province. — AFP/File

Islamabad: Pakistan and China aim to enhance agricultural cooperation, focusing on cotton production, seed development, irrigation technology, and research exchanges. Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain met with a senior Chinese delegation in Islamabad during the China-Pakistan Economic and Trade Exchange Conference. The meeting included He Zhongyou, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), the chairman of China Xinjian Group, and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong.

Tanveer Hussain emphasized the significance of agriculture for Pakistan-China cooperation, highlighting Pakistan's challenges in cotton yields and outdated seeds. He commended Xinjiang's agricultural success model, especially its water-saving techniques and mechanized farming in arid regions, as a potential guide for Pakistan's development.

Both parties agreed to form technical working groups to accelerate joint research, pilot projects, and technology transfers suited to Pakistan's diverse ecological zones. The minister suggested initiating specific projects in Gilgit-Baltistan due to its similarities with Xinjiang's geography.

He also encouraged Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan's agricultural sector through joint ventures, demonstration farms, and public-private partnerships. Hussain expressed commitment to translating the partnership into tangible benefits for farmers, researchers, and future generations.

Ambassador Jiang appreciated Pakistan's proactive stance and reiterated China's support under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He lauded Pakistan's willingness to collaborate and highlighted the potential for a lasting partnership in food security, technology transfer, and rural development. Both sides pledged to maintain high-level dialogue and promptly work towards shared objectives, reinforcing the enduring Pakistan-China friendship.

According to the source: The News International.