Pakistan, China to multiply partnership as Agricultural, Industrial Cooperation Information Platform launched
China Economic Net
Islamabad: Pakistan and China on Tuesday agreed to multiply the agricultural and industrial cooperation as they launched China-Pakistan Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation Information Platform.
Speaking at the online inaugural ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong said the platform jointly initiated by China Economic Net and China Machinery Engineering Corporation could not be more timely and will serve as the bridge for two sides to expand cooperation on agriculture, industry and other sectors
Ambassador Rong said he was pleased to attend the launching ceremony of China-Pakistan Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation Information Platform.
“I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations on the official launch of the platform today. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the guests here for your great efforts and contribution to the platform. With the introduction of the platform, the government departments, research institutions, associations and chambers, and enterprises of the two countries could carry out all-round, multi-sector, and in-depth commication and cooperation,” he said.
The envoy said, CPEC, being an important pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and a demonstration project of China-Pakistan Cooperation, plays a significant role in promoting the in-depth development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
For the first phase, he said, CPEC had already achieved great success in terms of Gwadar Port, energy, transportation infrastructure.
“Now, CPEC has entered into the critical stage, in which both sides will focus on cooperation in agriculture, industry, and livelihood, towards high-quality development,” he added.
Ambassador Rong said the China Economic Net and China Machinery Engineering Corporation were highly expected to leverage their respective strengths in a joint efforts to build the platform into an informatized and pragmatic brand.
“By using the platform, the information of agricultural and industrial cooperation will be collected and displayed on the platform; business activities such as forums, seminars and delegation visits could be organized; in-depth agricultural and industrial B2B cooperation will also be effectively promoted,” he added.
The year of 2021, he said, marked the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and Pakistan.
Over the past 70 years, he said, no matter how the international landscape, regional situation and domestic situation of the two countries changed, the two sides had always trusted and supported each other, and the bilateral relationship had become a model with different social systems, different historic background.
“Taking the advantage of the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relationship, we would like to work more closely with the Pakistan government and people, making all efforts to enrich the all-weather strategic partnership and benefit people of two countries by continuously advancing the progress of CPEC,” Ambassador Rong said.
He wished all the success to the platform, all the success to China Economic Net and China Machinery Engineering Corporation.
Chairman of the CPEC Authority Asim Saleem Bajwa said that the agro-industrial cooperation between Pakistan and China under CPEC will play a vital role in expanding and multiplying bilateral economic relations.
The CPEC Authority chief said Agriculture was the mainstay of Pakistan’s economy which contributes some 18 percent of the country’s GDP, employs a very large number of people, and is highly essential for the country’s food security and export potential.
He added: “Pakistan fully realizes its agricultural potential, and the incumbent government has been making fundamental reforms in agricultural sector.”
He said the Chinese experience, which is massively acknowledged worldwide, will be very helpful in adding value to Pakistan’s agriculture and contribute to the prosperity of the people.
On the industrial cooperation, he said that multiple preferred special economic zones under CPEC were being set up in all the provinces to give impetus to industrialization in the country.
Pakistan Ambassador to China Moin-ul Haque sought support of the Chinese government and enterprises to improve agriculture sector in Pakistan and expressed the confidence that both countries could turn a new page in agriculture and industrial modernization for shared benefits.
“We are confident that with the support of Chinese government, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and the Chinese enterprises, we can turn a new page in agriculture and industrial modernization for shared benefits,” he said.
He informed that Pakistan government had made agriculture and industrial revitalization a linchpin for its broad-based efforts for the socio-economic development, mitigation of climate change, management of urbanization and national growth and development, adding “so in order to achieve this objective, we look forward to the win-win cooperation with China.”
For enhancing yield of crops, modernization of irrigation system, value addition with agricultural and attracting foreign investments, Chinese investments are specially important.
He remarked that Pakistan and China were all-weather strategic partners and both countries had deepened their engagements in recent years, and expanded bilateral ties in diverse fields of cooperation.
“Ever-increasing economic and trade integration between Pakistan and China has made our two economies, increasingly interdependent,” he added.
He said that as the pilot and high quality demonstration project, CPEC played a pivotal position in the development agenda of Pakistan.
“After the success of its first phase, both sides have mutually agreed that second phase of CPEC would focus on social economic development, industrialization and modernization of agriculture with shared benefits,” he added.
During the visit of President Dr Arif Alvi to Beijing in March last year, the envoy said, the two countries had agreed that agricultural cooperation would be included in the framework of CPEC.
Ambassador Haque said during the Second Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue held in Hainan in August last year, it was further decided to pay a special attention to production of high yield seed varieties, increase using crops productivity besides addition of agro-based industry, agricultural technology, fast pest control and setting up of cold chain network.
He expressed the pleasure that the relevant ministries and the two embassies were working very closely to meet these goals, envisioned by the respective leadership.
Appreciating China’s rapid rise as the world leader in agricultural modernization, he said the last 40 years of reform and opening-up, enabled it to unleash a green revolution by reinvigorating its farmlands for increased productivity and ensuring the well-being of its farmers.
He said that Chinese miracle was worth-emulating for developing countries like Pakistan as it also endowed with fertile land, abundant water resources as well as four seasons allowing it to grow a variety of crops.
Director General of China Division Muhammad Mudassir Tipu and Counsellor of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China Wu Changxue among others also spoke on the occasion. The speakers vowed to enhance the existing ties on the agri and industrial sector to a new level.
