ISLAMABAD, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan can achieve agricultural excellence in months rather than years by benefiting from China's experience and expertise.
Addressing the Pakistan-China Agriculture Investment Conference here on Monday, Sharif said agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan's economy and holds vast potential, stressing the need to enhance productivity through the use of modern technology.
He urged scientists and agricultural experts to ensure optimal use of water, adopt modern farming methods, and strengthen value chains, cold chains and value addition.
Sharif said China's development in agricultural techniques, information technology, and artificial intelligence is unmatched, adding that Pakistan-China friendly relations span decades and that both countries are celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
He called on Pakistani farmers, agricultural institutions, and experts to come forward, demonstrate their capabilities by learning from Chinese experts, and deliver the excellence required by Pakistan's agricultural economy, noting that Pakistani youth have the potential to transform the sector in months rather than years.
Sharif said he looks forward to the upgraded Version 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), adding that deeper Pakistan-China cooperation would play a key role in achieving sustainable economic growth.
Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong positively commented on the stabilization and recovery of Pakistan's macro economy, stating that the economies of the two countries are moving forward and developing vigorously, which have created new opportunities and injected new impetus into the promotion of bilateral cooperation.
China is willing to further align development plans with Pakistan, and push forward China-Pakistan relations to a new level on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, he added.
At the conference, several memorandums of understanding were signed between Chinese and Pakistani companies and institutions in 10 key fields including food processing, livestock, fisheries and farm machinery. ■
