ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has emphasized the need for deeper cooperation between Pakistan and China in agriculture sector.
Speaking to Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, the foreign minister said agriculture is the mainstay of Pakistan’s economy and employs a large part of the country’s productive labour force.
“Agriculture is the mainstay of Pakistan’s economy and employs a large part of Pakistan’s productive labor force. There is a greater need to revamp and modernise agriculture sector with China’s cooperation and unleash the Second Green Revolution in Pakistan”, said the foreign minister.
Qureshi said China has introduced wide-ranging reforms in its agriculture sector that contributed significantly to its GDP and therefore, it is imperative for Pakistan to benefit from these experiences, adding that it was imperative that Pakistan benefits from China’s experiences.
The foreign minister stressed that deeper agriculture cooperation between China and Pakistan will lead to job creation, enhancing agricultural productivity, poverty alleviation and stimulating economic recovery in Pakistan in the aftermath of COVID-19.
Welcoming the establishment of Joint Working Group on Agriculture Cooperation under CPEC, he emphasised that the inclusion of agriculture in CPEC will promote industrialization and modernisation of the agriculture economy.
He thanked China for helping Pakistan fight locust through provision of pesticides, machinery and drones. He also said that Foot and Mouth Disease Free Zone will help Pakistan in export of meat to China and urged to send a team of technical experts to expedite exports of meat to China.
The Chinese Ambassadorhoped the co-operation between China and Pakistan in agriculture sector will grow and lead to substantial economic benefits for Pakistan.
He expressed his country’s interest to collaborate with Pakistan in setting up Agriculture Technology Centers, Joint Research Centre for Plant Pest and Disease Control, and FMD Zones. He added that under the Second Phase of FTA China would also welcome import of agriculture products from Pakistan.
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