President Dr Arif Alvi has stressed the need to adopt modern agricultural techniques with the support of China to improve the country’s agricultural sector.

Addressing Pak-China Agricultural Cooperation Forum in Islamabad on Wednesday, Dr Alvi said Pakistan needs to learn from China latest techniques regarding the efficient use of water in the agriculture sector.

National Food Security & Research Minister Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan, Kashmir Committee Chairman Fakhar Imam, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) Chairman Zhang Chun and MNSF&R Secretary Dr Hashim Popalzai were also present on the occasion.

The president said with the active interest of farmers’ community, joint research could be conducted for the production of quality seeds. China could also help Pakistan improve its livestock sector while joint ventures can be chalked out for the manufacturing of modern machinery, he added.

Federal Minister Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan said on the occasion that CPEC was the best thing that happened between the two countries, adding that the corridor would take the existing agriculture cooperation between the two countries to new heights.

He recalled that the foundation for this extensive agricultural cooperation was laid down during the visit of the prime minister to China, where he had emphasized the importance of strong agricultural ties between the two countries.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing said, “We are including agricultural cooperation as one of the important components in CPEC. This agriculture cooperation will boost business in two countries.”

Later, President Dr Arif Alvi laid the foundation of Pak-China Agriculture Exchange Centre, while an MoU was also signed between CMEC and Fatima Fertiliser.