Pakistan, China eye agricultural breakthroughs

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Thursday vowed to deepen agricultural collaboration with a focus on cotton production, seed development, irrigation technology and research exchanges, as Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain held a high-level meeting with a senior Chinese delegation in Islamabad.

The talks, held on the sidelines of China-Pakistan Economic and Trade Exchange Conference, were attended by 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 stressed that agriculture is both an economic backbone and a strategic avenue for Pakistan-China cooperation, pointing to Pakistan’s struggles in cotton yields and outdated seeds. He praised Xinjiang’s model of agricultural success—particularly its water-saving techniques and mechanised farming in arid zones—as a blueprint for Pakistan’s transformation.

Both sides agreed to establish technical working groups to fast-track joint research, pilot projects, and technology transfers tailored to Pakistan’s diverse ecological zones. The minister proposed launching targeted initiatives in Gilgit-Baltistan, leveraging its geographic similarities with Xinjiang.

He also invited Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan’s agri-business sector, proposing joint ventures, demonstration farms and public-private partnerships. “We are fully committed to translating this strong partnership into real benefits for our farmers, researchers and future generations,” he said.

Ambassador Jiang welcomed Pakistan’s proactive approach and reiterated Beijing’s support under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He appreciated Pakistan for openness to collaboration and highlighted the potential for long-term partnership in food security, technology transfer and rural development. They pledged to sustain high-level dialogue and move swiftly to implement shared goals, reinforcing what Hussain called the “time-tested Pakistan-China friendship”.