BEIJING:Pakistan Ambassador Moin-ul Haque on Tuesday sought support of theChinese government and enterprises to improve agriculture sector inPakistan and expressed the confidence that both countries could turn a newpage in agriculture and industrial modernization for shared benefits.
“We are confident that with the support of Chinese government, Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Affairs of China and the Chinese enterprises, we canturn a new page in agriculture and industrial modernization for sharedbenefits,” he said while addressing the launching ceremony ofChina-Pakistan Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation Information Platformheld online.
He informed that Pakistan government had made agriculture and industrialrevitalization a linchpin for its broad-based efforts for thesocio-economic development, mitigation of climate change, management ofurbanization and national growth and development, adding “so in order toachieve this objective, we look forward to the win-win cooperation withChina.”
For enhancing yield of crops, modernization of irrigation system, valueaddition with agricultural and attracting foreign investments, Chineseinvestments are specially important.
He remarked that Pakistan and China were all-weather strategic partners andboth countries had deepened their engagements in recent years, and expandedbilateral ties in diverse fields of cooperation.
“Ever-increasing economic and trade integration between Pakistan and Chinahas made our two economies, increasingly interdependent,” he added.
He said that as the pilot and high quality demonstration project, ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) played a pivotal position in thedevelopment agenda of Pakistan.
“After the success of its first phase, both sides have mutually agreed thatsecond phase of CPEC would focus on social economic development,industrialization and modernization of agriculture with shared benefits.”
During the visit of President Dr. Arif Aliv to Beijing in March last year,the two countries agreed that agricultural cooperation would be included inthe framework of CPEC.
Ambassador Haque said during the Second Foreign Ministers StrategicDialogue held in Hainan in August last year, it was further decided to paya special attention to production of high yield seed varieties, increaseusing crops productivity besides addition of agro-based industry,agricultural technology, fast pest control and setting up of cold chainnetwork.
He expressed the pleasure that the relevant ministries and the twoembassies were working very closely to meet these goals, envisioned by therespective leadership.Appreciating China’s rapid rise as the world leader in agriculturalmodernization, he said the last 40 years of reform and opening-up, enabledit to unleash a green revolution by reinvigorating its farmlands forincreased productivity and ensuring the well-being of its farmers.
He said that Chinese miracle was worth-emulating for developing countrieslike Pakistan as it also endowed with fertile land, abundant waterresources as well as four seasons allowing it to grow a variety of crops.
He informed that agriculture contributed almost 18% of GDP, providedemployment for about 38% of total labor force in Pakistan
“Pakistan is among top producers of wheat, sugarcane, rice and a variety offoods and one of the world’s largest sources of livestock offers greatpotential for major industries of Pakistan, he added.
On the occasion, he said that today’s launching of this platform had becomemore important, and momentous as Pakistan and China were celebrating70-year of establishment of the diplomatic relations. The launching alsomarked one of the many activities that the two countries had planned thisyear, he added.
He extended heartiest congratulations to the China Economic Net and theChina Machinery Engineering Corporation for taking important initiative forthe establishment of this important platform.
“I am confident that this platform would synergize efforts formodernization, expansion of our industry and agriculture and injecting anew impetus to our ongoing efforts,” he added.