President Asif Ali Zardari, Sunday, visited SANY Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. in Changsha, Hunan province; China where he was briefed by Chairman of Sany Group Tang Xiuguo, on the company’s advanced manufacturing systems, product lines and ongoing investments in research and development. Vice Mayor of Changsha Qian Lixia was also present on the occasion.
The visit focused on exploring avenues for industrial cooperation, technology transfer and investment between Pakistan and China in the engineering and construction machinery sector, President Secretariat Media Wing said in a press release.
During the visit, the president was given a detailed overview of SANY’s operations, including its core business areas of concrete machinery, excavators, cranes, piling equipment and road machinery.
He was also informed about the company’s financial and operational performance, including its 2024 operating revenue which was $11.27 billion, product segmentation and sustained investment in innovation and R&D capacity.
The president was accompanied by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sharjeel Inam Memon, Senior Provincial Minister, Sindh; Ali Hassan Barohi, Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh for Investment and Public-Private Partnership Projects and Chief Secretary, Sindh; China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi.
The president was given a round of the company’s flagship No. 18 Factory, which is a digitally integrated manufacturing facility recognised for its advanced automation and data-driven production systems.
He was briefed on the factory’s intelligent operations, high automation rate and its role as a benchmark for modern industrial manufacturing.
He noted the scale of technological integration and its relevance for countries seeking to modernise industrial production and improve efficiency.
President Zardari appreciated the scale, sophistication and technological depth of SANY’s manufacturing ecosystem. He emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation in industrial technology, skill development and joint ventures that could support Pakistan’s infrastructure and industrial growth.
He also highlighted the potential for collaboration in areas such as construction machinery, digital manufacturing, clean energy and engineering solutions.
Tang Xiuguo underlined the company’s commitment to innovation, digitalisation and international partnerships and informed about country’s ongoing operations in Pakistan and expressed the willingness to explore opportunities for increased collaboration with Pakistan in manufacturing, technology exchange and capacity building.
Moreover, he visited Hunan Tea Group Co., Ltd where he was briefed by Mr Zhou Zhongwang, Chairman of Hunan Tea Group, on its operations, supply chain and international market presence. The President was apprised of the group’s end-to-end model, which brings together cultivation, processing, research, marketing and tea culture within a single industrial framework. The briefing outlined how ecological tea garden bases, specialised production facilities and distribution systems are organised to support both domestic sales and exports.
The President was informed that Hunan Tea Group functions as a coordinating platform for the province’s tea sector, connecting growers, industry and research institutions with branding and market access.
During the visit, the President toured the company’s history gallery and observed a presentation on tea processing and tea culture. He also attended a tea tasting session.
The President noted the scope for cooperation in value addition, agro-processing and export development, and invited the Group to explore opportunities for collaboration with Pakistan in these areas.
Later, the president held a meeting with Shen Xiaoming, Party Secretary of Hunan Province, and attended a banquet hosted in his honour by Governor of Hunan Province Mao Weiming. The engagement focused on advancing practical cooperation in agriculture, health, education and trade, while reaffirming the enduring strength of Pakistan-China relations.
During the meeting, the President invited Shen Xiaoming to visit Pakistan in connection with the 75th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He underscored that Pakistan-China ties remain a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and continue to enjoy broad-based support. He also referred to his long-standing personal connection with China, recalling that his family, including his late father-in-law Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his late wife Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, had always attached special importance to relations with China. He said this tradition is now being carried forward by the next generation, including his son, former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari.
The President emphasised Hunan’s strengths in agricultural technology and equipment, noting their relevance to Pakistan’s efforts to enhance productivity.
He expressed interest in closer collaboration in seed technology, agricultural research and modern farming practices, and highlighted the potential for expanding bilateral trade in areas such as agricultural machinery, minerals processing, and information and communication technologies. Regional situation also came under discussion.
Expressing his views at the banquet, the Governor of Hunan Mao Weiming, described Pakistan and China as good friends, good neighbours, good partners and good brothers. He stated that Hunan province would continue to contribute sincerely to the development of CPEC 2.0.
He informed the President that universities in Hunan have done 12 cooperation agreements with Pakistani institutions. He also mentioned that 959 Pakistani students are currently studying in Hunan across various disciplines, contributing to stronger people-to-people links.
In his remarks, President Zardari said that Hunan holds a special place as the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong, whose legacy continues to resonate. He observed that the idea that power rests with the people remains deeply admired by the Pakistanis. Reflecting on his personal connection with China, he noted that he first visited the country in 1989 and that his affinity for China has grown stronger over time.
Speaking at the banquet, the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong remarked that the President’s decision to visit Hunan reflects his special regard for Chairman Mao. He noted that Pakistan and China are expanding collaboration in agriculture, industry and minerals, and expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen bilateral cooperation, bring the two peoples closer and add significance to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.