President Zardari pushes deeper industrial, tech cooperation during China visit

• President visits Sany Heavy Industry in Changsha as economic diplomacy gains pace

• Calls for joint ventures, skill development and industrial technology transfer

• Explores cooperation in construction machinery, clean energy and digital manufacturing

• Reviews Sany’s advanced automated factory and $11.27bn 2024 revenue performance

• Hunan Tea Group visit opens new avenues in agro-processing and value addition

 ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday underscored the importance of expanding industrial and technological cooperation with China during visits to major industrial and agro-processing facilities in Changsha, as part of his week-long tour focused on strengthening bilateral economic and trade ties.

President Zardari arrived in China on Saturday for a week-long visit to the provinces of Hunan Province and Hainan Province for engagements aimed at enhancing economic and trade cooperation. He will remain in Changsha until Monday before travelling to Sanya from April 28 to May 1, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

On Sunday, the president visited Sany Heavy Industry in Changsha, where Sany Group Chairman Tang Xiuguo briefed him on the company’s advanced manufacturing systems, product portfolio and continued investments in research and development (R&D), said a statement issued from the President’s Office.

President Zardari visited SANY Heavy Industry in Changsha, Hunan province to boost Pakistan-China industrial cooperation. From smart manufacturing to tech transfers in construction & clean energy, the focus is on modernising Pakistan’s infrastructure through global partnerships. pic.twitter.com/M6jR9MBeJC

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) April 26, 2026

Sany Group manufactures a broad range of industrial products, including construction and mining equipment, port machinery, oil drilling machinery and renewable wind energy systems.

According to a post on X by the Presidency, the visit focused on “smart manufacturing” and technology transfer in construction and clean energy, with an emphasis on modernising Pakistan’s infrastructure through global partnerships.

On April 26, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari visited Sany Heavy Industry in Changsha. When seeing products such as unmanned counterbalanced forklifts, he asked, "Why haven't you been invited to Pakistan," according to China News Service. pic.twitter.com/u4uiOEW74H

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) April 26, 2026

President Zardari appreciated the scale, sophistication and technological depth of Sany’s manufacturing ecosystem, according to a statement issued by the President Secretariat’s Media Wing.

He stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in industrial technology, skill development and joint ventures, saying such partnerships could play a vital role in supporting Pakistan’s infrastructure development and industrial expansion.

The president also highlighted the potential for collaboration in construction machinery, digital manufacturing, clean energy and engineering solutions.

During the visit, President Zardari was given a detailed briefing on Sany’s operations, including its core business segments of concrete machinery, excavators, cranes, piling equipment and road machinery.

He toured the company’s flagship No. 18 Factory, a digitally integrated manufacturing facility recognised for advanced automation and data-driven production systems.

The president was briefed on the factory’s intelligent operational systems, high automation rate and its role as a benchmark for modern industrial manufacturing.

He noted the scale of technological integration and said such advanced systems held significant relevance for countries seeking to modernise industrial production and improve operational efficiency.

President Zardari was also informed about the company’s financial and operational performance, including its 2024 operating revenue of $11.27 billion, product segmentation and sustained investment in innovation and R&D.

Meanwhile, Tang Xiuguo reaffirmed Sany’s commitment to innovation, digitalisation and international partnerships.

He discussed the company’s ongoing operations in Pakistan and expressed willingness to explore expanded collaboration with Islamabad in manufacturing, technology transfer and capacity building.

Qian Lixia was also present on the occasion.

President Zardari was accompanied by Saleem Mandviwalla and Naveed Qamar, chairpersons of the Senate and National Assembly standing committees on finance, respectively.

The president was also accompanied by Sharjeel Inam Memon, Jiang Zaidong, Khalil Hashmi and other officials.

Later, President Zardari also visited Hunan Tea Group in Changsha to explore Pakistan-China cooperation in agro-processing and value addition, according to another post by the Presidency on X.

President Zardari visited Hunan Tea Group in Changsha, Hunan province to explore 🇵🇰🇨🇳 cooperation in agro-processing & value addition. ​The President was briefed on the supply chain mechanism & invited the Group to bring their expertise in tea cultivation & exports to Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/yKv71RMgVk

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) April 26, 2026

During the visit, the president was briefed on the company’s supply chain mechanism and invited the group to bring its expertise in tea cultivation and exports to Pakistan as part of efforts to expand bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector.