Pakistan and China sign three MoUs on desalination, farm technology and tea cooperation

BEIJING: Pakistan and China on Monday signed three memoranda of understanding aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in seawater desalination, agricultural technology and the tea sector during President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to China.

President Zardari witnessed the signing of the agreements between Pakistani and Chinese entities. Dawn reported that the president is on a week-long visit to China until May 1, while Geo National described it as a five-day visit.

The first MoU was signed between the Sindh local government and Lucion Environmental Technology Group for cooperation on a seawater desalination project in Karachi intended to increase the city’s water supply. The agreement was signed by Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on behalf of the Pakistani side and by Yuhui, secretary of the Party Branch and chairman of Lucion Environmental Technology Group, on behalf of the Chinese side.

The second agreement was signed between the Sindh local government and Long Ping Hi-tech Information Company for cooperation in agricultural technology. Memon signed the document for the Sindh government, while Chen Zhixin, chairman of Long Ping Hi-tech Information Company, signed for the Chinese side.

The third MoU focused on the tea industry and was signed between Meskay & Femtee Trading Company, Hunan Tea Group and Jiaolong International Technology (Hainan). According to the reports, the agreement is meant to promote cooperation across all areas of the industry, support the development of the tea sector in both countries and strengthen economic, trade and people-to-people ties.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla signed the tea-sector MoU from the Pakistani side. From the Chinese side, the signatories were Zhou Chongwang, party secretary and chairman of Hunan Tea Group, and Hao Jiaolong, chairman of Hainan Jiaolong International Trade Technology.

Those present at the signing ceremony included Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi. Dawn reported that MNA Naveed Qamar and Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah were also in attendance. Geo National identified Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar as Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh for Investment and Public-Private Partnership Projects, and also listed Ali Hassan Barohi, Chief Secretary Sindh, among the attendees.

Geo National reported that President Zardari arrived in China shortly after midnight on Saturday for an official visit focused on strengthening economic and trade relations, particularly with reference to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

According to the same report, a day earlier President Zardari visited SANY Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. in Changsha, Hunan province, where he was briefed by Sany Group Chairman Tang Xiuguo on the company’s advanced manufacturing systems, product lines and ongoing investment in research and development.

The President Secretariat Media Wing said in a press release, according to Geo National, that the visit explored avenues for industrial cooperation, technology transfer and investment between Pakistan and China in the engineering and construction machinery sector.

Geo National further reported that last year President Zardari travelled to China on a 10-day official visit, during which he met senior Chinese leaders to deepen bilateral ties, broaden cooperation in multiple sectors and advance shared priorities. Six MoUs were signed between the Sindh government and business partners in agriculture, defence, energy, rail connectivity and farmer training, with plans to expand those initiatives to other provinces.