Agricultural and industrial sectors focus of second phase of CPEC
Pakistan and China have embarked on a new venture with the launch of the first information platform for agricultural and industrial cooperation as these two sectors would remain the key focus in the second phase of CPEC.
“As we enter the critical juncture of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the agriculture sector and industries will be our main focus,” said Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of China-Pakistan Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation Information Platform, the ambassador said 2021 would mark the completion of 70 years of brotherly relations between Pakistan and China, and the agro-industrial platform would “ further strengthen business-to-business cooperation between the two countries”.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Moinul Haque said, the “platform marks one of the many activities planned for 2021” adding that the newly established venture would synergize efforts of the agriculture sector and industries between the two countries. “We can turn a new page in agricultural and industrial cooperation for the shared benefit of both countries.”
Expand bilateral economic ties
CPEC Authority Chairman Asim Saleem Bajwa said the new venture would “optimize the true potential of agricultural cooperation.”
Agriculture is the mainstay of Pakistan’s economy that contributes some 18 percent of the country’s GDP, employs over 40 percent of the workforce and is highly essential for the country’s food security and export potential, Bajwa said.
Bajwa said that the agro-industrial cooperation between Pakistan and China under CPEC will play a vital role in expanding and multiplying bilateral economic relations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian in his January 27 press briefing said that “The leaders of the two countries have agreed to make agriculture one of the priority areas for the next-stage high-quality development of CPEC.”
He added that China is committed to strengthening agricultural cooperation with Pakistan to boost the economic and social development of the two countries. “We hope and believe that the launch of this information platform will further promote bilateral exchanges and generate more cooperation outcomes,” Zhao Lijian said.