pak-china-us3r by Liao Yifan
The first China-Pakistan Symposium on Education, Science and Industrial Cooperation was held on January 20, 2026, at COMSTECH headquarters in Islamabad, marking a renewed and more integrated approach to bilateral collaboration.
The meeting was chaired by Senior Professor Zhang Lixin of Northwest A&F University, Chairman of Silkroad Biohealth Agricultural Industry Alliance and Chief Scientist/Director of Shaanxi Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Dryland Biological Resources and Green Smart Agriculture，China, and attended by Khalil Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan to China, who delivered the keynote address. More than 50 representatives from government agencies, universities, research institutions, and leading enterprises from both countries participated.
Business representatives outlined specific investment opportunities. Sun Lianfeng, General Manager of Baoji Haisheng Modern Agriculture, stated that the company plans to introduce high-density apple cultivation technologies to Pakistan, which could increase yields by 30% while reducing water usage by 80%. Feng Lianying, General Manager of Xianyang Kangda Modern Agriculture, confirmed that preparations are actively underway to invest in modern poultry farming facilities in Pakistan.
Educational cooperation has already yielded tangible results. More than 260 Pakistani students are currently enrolled in agriculture-related majors at Northwest A&F University, and over 510 participants have completed training programs. Last year and this year, a total of 10 Chinese Silk Road graduate students have come to Pakistan University for exchange studies, while 2 Pakistani graduate students will go to China for training in smart agricultural technology.
The symposium was followed by a ten-day series of visits by the Chinese delegation across Islamabad, Lahore and other regions. Activities included participation in a Pakistan–China agriculture investment conference, site inspections of farms, food processing and poultry facilities, and meetings with research institutions such as the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute. Several cooperation agreements were signed, and roadmaps were established for joint laboratories, technology transfer centers, and demonstration parks.
Together, the forum and follow-up visits transformed dialogue into practical cooperation, strengthening people-to-people ties and laying a solid foundation for a deeper China-Pakistan partnership as the two countries approach the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
