China, Pakistan to boost agricultural cooperation under CPEC framework
Celina Ali
Islamabad: Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, Shi Yuanqiang, has reaffirmed China’s strong commitment to strengthening agricultural industrial cooperation with Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.
He was addressing the “China-Pakistan High-Quality Agricultural Cooperation Development Forum—Agricultural Industrial cooperation”, organized by the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan (CCCPK).
He reiterated China’s commitment to sharing its agricultural development models, technologies, and research experiences to support Pakistan’s resilient agricultural growth. He emphasized that both countries are enhancing bilateral collaboration in the agriculture sector to promote modernization and high-quality production using advanced technologies.
He noted that Pakistan’s agriculture sector holds great potential and that ongoing cooperation has already yielded successful outcomes.
“Pakistan’s farmers are doing well, and many joint agricultural projects have been successfully completed with China’s support,” Shi stated, adding that institutional cooperation in agricultural science and technology has significantly deepened in recent years.
He hailed the efforts of the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan and various government organizations for playing a vital role in driving progress. The two sides, he said, have identified new areas for collaboration through joint working group, which have helped expand bilateral agricultural trade and investment.
Shi stressed that food security and sustainable development remain global challenges, and international cooperation is key to addressing them.
“The prospects for China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation are promising,” he noted. “Both sides will continue practical cooperation in modern agriculture, including technology exchange, production capacity building, and structural improvement.”
Shi urged continued joint efforts to strengthen the foundation of the agriculture sector, highlighting that success stories in existing ventures serve as a blueprint for future collaboration.
President of CCCPK, Wang Huihua, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to collaboration and long-term development. He highlighted the importance of joint efforts and sustainable cooperation in ensuring the successful completion of all ongoing and future projects.
“We believe that with unity and shared purpose, we can overcome any challenges and build a brighter future together in agriculture sector. CCCPK believes in strategic vision of fostering partnerships and driving progress through innovation, efficiency, and mutual respect.”
Mrs. Amina Bajwa, Head of Programme at FAO Pakistan and Ch. Waseem Ajmal, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research of Pakistan also addressed the forum.
Speakers praised the achievements of China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation and expressed hope for its continued advancement.
They said that agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan economy contributing nearly 20% to GDP and employing over one-third of the population. It plays a vital role in ensuring food security, poverty reduction, and social stability.
They said in the face of climate change and growing food demand, agricultural modernization and sustainability are now national priorities. They added agricultural cooperation is emerging as a strategic pillar of CPEC.
They expressed the hope that China and Pakistan will continue to expand agricultural value chains, promote green agriculture, ensure food security, and work together to build a closer agricultural community with a shared future.
Speakers said that the forum not only showcased the depth and breadth of China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation but also provided a practical platform for collaboration between enterprises from both countries.
The forum featured five thematic speeches, covering contract farming of chili and sesame, promotion and full industrial chain development of hybrid double-zero canola, buffalo breeding and dairy processing, modernization of agricultural storage facilities, and financial empowerment for agricultural cooperation.
The forum also saw the release of A Typical Cases of China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation and the signing of multiple Memorandums of Understanding, covering various areas including double-zero canola, oil-feed integration, agri-livestock equipment, and buffalo farming.
Representatives from government agencies, research institutions, enterprises, and financial organizations from both countries attended the event and exchanged views and explored the future of bilateral agricultural cooperation.
