ISLAMABAD, Thursday, July 3, 2025 (WNP): China on Thursday reaffirmed its strong commitment to deepening agricultural industrial cooperation with Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), pledging enhanced technological support and collaboration to boost Pakistan’s agricultural modernization and food security.
Addressing the “China-Pakistan High-Quality Agricultural Cooperation Development Forum” in Islamabad, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, Shi Yuanqiang, emphasized China’s readiness to share its advanced agricultural models, technologies, and research expertise with Pakistan to support sustainable and high-quality growth in the sector.
Organized by the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan (CCCPK), the forum brought together key government officials, agricultural experts, and industry stakeholders from both countries to explore new opportunities in agricultural development.
“Pakistan’s agriculture sector holds tremendous potential,” Shi noted. “We have already seen successful joint ventures, and institutional cooperation in agricultural science and technology has significantly deepened in recent years.”
He highlighted food security and climate resilience as global challenges requiring coordinated international responses. “China and Pakistan will continue to expand practical cooperation in modern agriculture—covering technology exchange, production capacity building, and structural reforms,” he said.
Shi also praised the efforts of CCCPK and various Pakistani government departments for promoting bilateral trade and investment in agriculture through joint working groups. He expressed optimism about future collaboration, citing success stories in areas such as contract farming, seed development, and livestock management.
Wang Huihua, President of CCCPK, reaffirmed the organization’s long-term commitment to agricultural cooperation. “With unity and shared purpose, we can overcome any challenge,” he said. “Our strategic vision is to foster partnerships that drive innovation, productivity, and mutual prosperity.”
Prominent Pakistani officials, including Ch. Waseem Ajmal, Federal Secretary for National Food Security and Research, and Mrs. Amina Bajwa, Head of Programme at FAO Pakistan, also addressed the forum. They lauded the depth and scope of China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation and stressed its critical role in strengthening Pakistan’s economy.
Speakers noted that agriculture contributes nearly 20% of Pakistan’s GDP and employs over one-third of the population. They underscored the sector’s central role in ensuring food security, reducing poverty, and maintaining social stability—particularly in the face of climate change and increasing food demand.
Agricultural modernization, they said, is now a national priority, and cooperation with China is emerging as a strategic pillar of CPEC. Participants expressed hope for expanded value chains, promotion of green agriculture, enhanced storage and processing capacity, and a shared agricultural future between the two countries.
The forum featured five thematic presentations on key areas including:
- Contract farming of chili and sesame
- Industrial chain development of hybrid double-zero canola
- Buffalo breeding and dairy processing
- Modernization of agricultural storage facilities
- Financial empowerment for agricultural cooperation
In a major highlight, the forum witnessed the release of “A Typical Cases of China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation” and the signing of multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). These agreements covered collaborations in double-zero canola cultivation, oil-feed integration, agri-livestock equipment, and buffalo farming.
The event was attended by representatives from government bodies, research institutions, agribusinesses, and financial organizations, all of whom engaged in dialogue aimed at advancing bilateral agricultural cooperation under the evolving framework of CPEC.
