Beijing (TDI): The inaugural China-Pakistan Symposium on Education, Science, and Industrial Cooperation recently took place at the COMSTECH headquarters, highlighting a fresh and more integrated approach to bilateral collaboration between the two nations.
The event was chaired by Professor Zhang Lixin of Northwest A&F University, Chairman of the Silkroad Biohealth Agricultural Industry Alliance, and Chief Scientist/Director of the Shaanxi Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Dryland Biological Resources and Green Smart Agriculture. Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, delivered the keynote address. Over 50 delegates from government agencies, universities, research organizations, and leading enterprises from both countries participated.
In his opening remarks, Professor Zhang welcomed the diverse delegation, including representatives from Shaanxi Province, Chinese media, Northwest A&F University faculty and students, and Pakistani officials and experts in science, technology, and industry.
The discussions focused on agriculture, higher education, and industrial collaboration. Representing Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Shakil Arshad highlighted ongoing partnerships with Chinese universities in areas such as space science and Traditional Chinese Medicine, involving institutions like Nanjing University and Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Agricultural leaders stressed the importance of joint innovation. Professor Muhammad Azam Khan, former Director General of Pakistan’s National Agriculture Research Center, noted that over 700 crop varieties developed by the center now cover 80% of the country’s farmland. He called for closer cooperation with China in precision agriculture, smart machinery, and the development of the sesame value chain.
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Professor Shah Nawaz Marri, Chairman of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics at Sindh Agriculture University, announced plans to establish Pakistan’s first China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation Center. He expressed hopes for joint research in areas such as pepper variety improvement and germplasm exchange for high-value crops.
Business representatives also outlined concrete investment opportunities. Sun Lianfeng, General Manager of Baoji Haisheng Modern Agriculture, said the company plans to introduce high-density apple cultivation technology to Pakistan, which could increase yields by 30% while reducing water use by 80%. Feng Lianying, General Manager of Xianyang Kangda Modern Agriculture, confirmed preparations for modern poultry farming projects in Pakistan.
Educational collaboration is already producing results. More than 260 Pakistani students are currently enrolled in agriculture-related programs at Northwest A&F University, and over 510 participants have completed training programs. In recent years, Chinese Silk Road graduate students have participated in exchange programs in Pakistan, while Pakistani graduate students are visiting China to train in smart agricultural technologies.
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In his closing remarks, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi described agriculture as a cornerstone of high-quality development under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, noting the strong complementarity between Pakistan’s resources and China’s technological expertise. He also mentioned a major international cooperation program approved in December 2025, which will create new platforms for future collaboration.
Following the symposium, the Chinese delegation conducted a ten-day visit to Islamabad, Lahore, and other regions. Activities included attending a Pakistan-China agriculture investment conference, inspecting farms, food processing and poultry facilities, and visiting research institutions such as the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute. Multiple cooperation agreements were signed, and roadmaps were laid out for joint laboratories, technology transfer centers, and demonstration parks.
The symposium and follow-up visits turned dialogue into tangible action, strengthening people-to-people connections and laying a robust foundation for a deeper China-Pakistan partnership, ahead of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
