China to set up eight agricultural research centres in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Outgoing Chinese Ambassador, Yao Jing has said that eight agricultural research centers would be established as part of agricultural cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

In a farewell briefing to media on Friday, Ambassador Yao Jing said that agricultural collaboration between the two countries would include both government-to-government (G2G) research and business-to-business (B2B) interaction.

He explained that under the G2G mode, a pest control center would be established in Karachi, while under the B2B model, Pakistani companies would forge cooperation with Chinese private companies, adding that two Pakistani companies have already been identified in this regard.

Ambassador Yao Jing further said some Chinese companies were also interested in Pakistan’s halal food industry.

“For south Balochistan, the Pakistani government wants to build a dates’ processing factory, while a mango processing plant is also being discussed. Plantation of oilseeds would be encouraged in the area and establishment of a meat processing unit is also on the cards.”

Regarding his farewell, Ying said that he had served in Pakistan for 11-years and that he thoroughly enjoyed his stay.

Yao Jing further maintained the CPEC cooperation has been further consolidated in the past three years and he was very happy the way PM Imran Khan and the Pakistani government are handling the CPEC projects.

He said that 16 projects have been completed so far under the CPEC, including KKH second phase and Orange Line Metro Train.

Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa hosted a farewell dinner in honour of the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing in Islamabad.

The army chief thanked the ambassador for his services and appreciated his contributions for fostering strong ties between Pakistan and China, support towards defense and security cooperation, handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and stance on Kashmir.

Later on, the Chinese ambassador also made a farewell call on the Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh at the Finance Division.

The adviser lauded the commitment with which Jing worked for the progress of the Pak-China relationship. He addmitted the contributions of the envoy and China’s leadership for Pakistan and hoped that his predecessor will work on the same lines.