Pakistan and China sign agreements covering agriculture, education, media and trade

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday witnessed the signing and exchange of various agreements, memorandums of understanding (MoU), protocols and cooperation documents in Beijing.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif landed in Hangzhou on Saturday, kicking off his four-day official visit to China to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

After concluding his engagements in Hangzhou, Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Beijing where he held high-level meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, industrial cooperation and the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the agreements aim to “further deepen cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, climate change, education, media and people-to-people exchanges.”

The signed documents covered a wide range of sectors. In agriculture, both sides signed a Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Dried Fruits and Nuts, a Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for Corn, a Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Development Cooperation in the Agricultural Sector, and an Exchange Letter on Animal Vaccines.

In the areas of economic development and trade, the two sides signed an MoU on deepening exchanges and cooperation in the field of economic development and an MoU on supporting free trade and multilateralism.

Also read: Pakistani, Chinese companies sign deals worth $7 billion at Hangzhou conference

In education and governance, both countries signed an Executive Program on Educational Cooperation and Exchanges, an MoU on Cooperation between the Foreign Service Academy and the China Foreign Affairs University, an MoU between the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (also known as the Chinese National Academy of Governance) and the National School of Public Policy of Pakistan, and an MoU on the Joint Implementation of the Human Resources Development Cooperation Program for 2026.

In science and technology, an MoU on Conformity Assessment was signed along with an MoU between Pakistan Science Foundation and Chinese Science and Technology Association. Among the documents exchanged was also an MoU on cooperation in the fields of environment and climate change.

In the media sector, Xinhua News Agency and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding, as did China Media Group and Pakistan Television, with the latter focusing on cooperation in the joint production of documentaries.

The two sides also formalized a sister province relationship between Zhejiang Province and Punjab Province.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said the signing of these agreements “reflects the growing depth and diversity of cooperation between Pakistan and China and opens new avenues of collaboration in key sectors that directly contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the people of both countries.”

On Sunday, Pakistani and Chinese companies signed memorandums of understanding worth more than $7 billion during a series of high-level engagements led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.

A major deal signed during Sunday’s conference included a $1.12 billion agreement between Haolu Engineering and Technology Company and Fauji Fertilizer for fertilizer production. Another MoU worth $100 million was signed between IBI Beijing United Information Technology and the RIC for cooperation in agrochemicals, agricultural machinery and establishment of a regional office in Multan.

Officials said more than 200 MoUs worth more than $20 billion had been signed during the five Pakistan-China trade conferences held so far.