Three MoUs were signed between Pakistan and China in the presence of President Asif Ali Zardari in Changsha, China. The agreement on making seawater usable was signed by Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Chairman of Luxian Environmental Technology Group Yuhui. The agreement on agricultural technology cooperation was signed by Sharjeel Inam Memon and Chairman of Longpin High-Tech Information Company Chen Zhishen. The agreement related to the tea sector was signed by Senator Saleem Mandviwala on behalf of Pakistan while Zhou Chongwang and Hao Jiaolong on behalf of Chinese companies. The aim of these agreements is to promote water, agriculture, trade and bilateral cooperation.
Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, said in a statement after the signing of the MoUs that the agreements signed between Pakistan and China will prove to be significant milestones for the development of various sectors. The MoUs signed between the two countries will create new investment opportunities, provide basic facilities to the people, promote the use of modern technology, and strengthen industrial cooperation.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that, considering the growing needs of a large city like Karachi, seawater desalination projects are the need of the hour. Through modern technology, additional water can be supplied to citizens, which will help address the water crisis in the future.
He said the Sindh government is taking serious steps to permanently resolve urban issues, and collaboration with world-class companies is part of this vision. This project will improve Karachi’s infrastructure and urban amenities, while also creating investment and employment opportunities.
Memon said that cooperation between the Sindh Local Government Department and a Chinese company in the field of agricultural technology is highly encouraging for Sindh’s economy. Sindh is an agriculturally fertile province, and the use of modern technology can significantly increase per-acre production. This agreement will provide farmers with access to modern research, improved seeds, smart farming systems, and advanced agricultural methods.
He said the Sindh government aims to modernize agriculture so that farmers prosper, agricultural exports increase, and the country’s economy grows stronger. China has made remarkable progress in agricultural research and technology, and Sindh can greatly benefit from this experience.
He added that the MoU in the tea sector will further expand trade relations between Pakistan and China and will play an important role in promoting the tea industry, trade, investment, and people-to-people contacts.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh for Investment and Public-Private Partnership Projects Qasim Naveed Qamar, Chief Secretary Sindh, Ali Hassan Brohi, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi were also present at the ceremony.
China stands ready to work with Pakistan to promote friendly exchanges and cooperation at all levels and localities between the two countries and jointly work to build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.
In response to a question about President Asif Ali Zardari’s ongoing visit to China, the spokesperson said during his regular presence briefing that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.
China-Pakistan relations have maintained a high level of sound development momentum, he added.
Lin Jian said that President Asif Ali Zardari travelled to China from April 25 to May 1, visiting Hunan province and Hainan province.