Sindh, Hubei explore cooperation opportunities

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday held talks with Chinese officials to expand cooperation in agriculture, technology, trade, investment and education, as Pakistan and China marked 75 years of diplomatic relations.

Leading a provincial delegation in Wuhan, Shah met Hubei Governor Li Dianxun and Communist Party Secretary Guan Zhi'ou to explore joint ventures, technology partnerships and development projects.

According to a spokesperson for the chief minister, discussions focused on translating bilateral friendship into practical cooperation between Sindh and Hubei, particularly in agriculture, industrial development, research and skills training.

Shah invited Chinese companies to launch pilot projects in Sindh, highlighting opportunities in port logistics, industrial automation and urban traffic management. He proposed connecting Wuhan-based technology firms and investors with Sindh's businesses, startups and technology centres.

The two sides also discussed joint incubation programmes for emerging businesses and pilot projects to modernise industrial operations and traffic management in Karachi.

Agriculture featured prominently in the talks, with both sides exploring cooperation in hybrid rice, high-yield seeds, agricultural machinery and modern farming techniques.

Shah thanked China for providing training to 1,000 Pakistani agricultural graduates at Chinese universities, including Huazhong Agricultural University. He said Hubei's expertise in rice production and seed technology could help boost agricultural productivity and farmers' incomes in Sindh.

The two sides also discussed establishing a joint laboratory for modern and digital agriculture, promoting mechanised farming and improving cold-chain infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses. Better storage and transportation systems, Shah said, could improve market access for the province's fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and fisheries products.

The discussions also covered the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with Shah welcoming Hubei's participation and calling for greater collaboration in agriculture, skills development and environmentally sustainable projects.