Pakistan, China agree to deepen cooperation in desalination, agriculture and tea production

Pakistan and China on Monday signed three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in Changsha covering water desalination in Karachi, agricultural technology and cooperation in the tea sector, according to an official statement shared by the presidency.

The MoUs aim to strengthen cooperation across industry sectors, support the development of the tea industry and strengthen economic, trade and people-to-people ties.

President Asif Ali Zardari witnessed the signing ceremony, which marked continued engagement between Pakistan and China in priority sectors.

Senior Sindh officials also attended the event, including Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Investment and Public-Private Partnership Qasim Naveed Qamar, Chief Secretary Ali Hassan Barohi and Pakistan Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi.

The ceremony took place in Hunan province and was part of a broader effort to expand practical cooperation between the two countries across strategic sectors, according to the Pakistan Peoples Party.

The first MoU was signed between Sindh Local Government Department and Luchuan Environmental Technology Group. It focuses on a project to convert seawater into potable water to help increase supplies in Karachi.

Sindh senior minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Yu Hui, party branch secretary and chairman of the Chinese company, signed the agreement.

The second MoU was signed between Sindh Local Government Department and Longping High-Tech Information Company to promote cooperation in agricultural technology. It was signed by Sharjeel Inam Memon and Chen Zhixin, chairman of the company.

The third agreement concerns cooperation in the tea sector and was signed by Muskeen & Family Trading Company, Hunan Tea Group and Jialong International Technology (Henan). Senator Saleem Mandviwalla signed on behalf of Pakistan, while Zhu Chongwang and Hao Jiaolong signed for the Chinese side.

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The President, who is on a week-long visit to China’s Hunan and Hainan provinces for engagements related to economic and trade cooperation, said Pakistan attaches great importance to expanding cooperation with China in key industrial sectors.

On Sunday, President Zardari visited SANY Heavy Industry in Changsha, where SANY Group Chairman Tang Xiuguo briefed the president on the company’s advanced production systems, products and ongoing investment in research and development. Later, President Zardari also visited Hunan Tea Group Co Ltd, where Chairman Zhou Zhongwang briefed him on the operations, supply chain and international market.