President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday expressed Pakistan’s interest in closer collaboration in seed technology, agricultural research and modern farming practices with China as he met the secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Hunan.

The president arrived in China on Saturday for a week-long visit to the Hunan and Hainan provinces for engagements related to economic and trade cooperation. He will remain in Hunan’s Changsha city until Monday, and then travel to Hainan’s Sanya from April 28 to May 1.

A press release issued by the President’s Secretariat said Zardari held a meeting with CCP Secretary Shen Xiaoming and also attended a banquet by Hunan Governor Mao Weiming.

“The engagement [with Xiaoming] focused on advancing practical cooperation in agriculture, health, education and trade, while reaffirming the enduring strength of Pakistan-China relations,” it stated.

President Zardari invited Xiaoming to visit Pakistan in connection with the 75th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Beijing, the Secretariat said.

“He [President Zardari] underscored that Pakistan-China ties remain a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and continue to enjoy broad-based support.”

President Zardari also referred to his long-standing personal connection with China, recalling that his family, including his late father-in-law Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and late wife Benazir Bhutto, had always “attached special importance to relations with China”, the Secretariat added.

“He said this tradition is now being carried forward by the next generation, including his son, former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari.”

The Secretariat said President Zardari also emphasised Hunan’s strengths in agricultural technology and equipment, noting their relevance to Pakistan’s efforts to enhance productivity.

“He expressed interest in closer collaboration in seed technology, agricultural research and modern farming practices, and highlighted the potential for expanding bilateral trade in areas such as agricultural machinery, minerals processing, and information and communication technologies. Regional situation also came under discussion,” it added.

President Zardari said that “Hunan holds a special place as the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong, whose legacy continues to resonate”.

“He observed that the idea that power rests with the people remains deeply admired by the Pakistanis.”

President Zardari also reflected on his personal connection with China, noting that he first visited the country in 1989 and that his affinity for China had grown stronger over time, it stated.

“The people of Pakistan and China are bound by deep-rooted ties and expressed confidence that their hearts would always remain close to each other,” the Secretariat quoted the president as saying.

“He noted significant potential for enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and Hunan province, particularly in areas observed during the visit,” it said.

Expressing his views at the banquet, Governor Weiming described Pakistan and China as “good friends, good neighbours, good partners and good brothers.”

“He stated that Hunan province would continue to contribute sincerely to the development of CPEC 2.0,” the Secretariat’s statement said.

Speaking at the banquet, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong said that the President Zardari’s decision to visit Hunan reflected his special regard for Chairman Mao.

“He noted that Pakistan and China are expanding collaboration in agriculture, industry and minerals, and expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen bilateral cooperation, bring the two peoples closer and add significance to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.”

Per the Secretariat, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Ali Hassan Barohi, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Investment and Public-Private Partnership Project Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah, and Pakistan’s ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, President Zardari visited a heavy equipment manufacturer and underscored the importance of bolstering industrial and technological cooperation with China.

He visited Sany Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. in Changsha, where Sany Group Chairman Tang Xiuguo briefed him on the company’s advanced manufacturing systems, product lines and ongoing investments in research and development (R&D).

Sany Group deals in a wide range of products, including construction and mining equipment, port machinery, oil drilling machinery, and renewable wind energy systems.

A post on X by the Presidency said, “From smart manufacturing to tech transfers in construction and clean energy, the focus is on modernising Pakistan’s infrastructure through global partnerships.”

President Zardari appreciated the scale, sophistication and technological depth of Sany’s manufacturing ecosystem, the President Secretariat’s Media Wing said in a press release.

He emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation in industrial technology, skill development and joint ventures, which could support Pakistan’s infrastructure and industrial growth.

He also highlighted the potential for collaboration in areas such as construction machinery, digital manufacturing, clean energy and engineering solutions.

During the visit, the president was given a detailed overview of Sany’s operations, including its core business areas of concrete machinery, excavators, cranes, piling equipment and road machinery.

He was given a tour of the company’s flagship No. 18 Factory, a digitally integrated manufacturing facility recognised for its advanced automation and data-driven production systems.

President Zardari was also briefed on the factory’s intelligent operations, high automation rate and its role as a benchmark for modern industrial manufacturing.

He noted the scale of technological integration and its relevance for countries seeking to modernise industrial production and improve efficiency.

He was informed about the company’s financial and operational performance, including its 2024 operating revenue of $11.27 billion, product segmentation and sustained investment in innovation and R&D capacity.

Meanwhile, Tang Xiuguo underlined Sany’s commitment to innovation, digitalisation and international partnerships.

He discussed the country’s ongoing operations in Pakistan and expressed the willingness to explore opportunities for increased collaboration with Islamabad in manufacturing, technology exchange and capacity building.

Changsha Vice Mayor Qian Lixia was also present on the occasion.

Saleem Mandviwalla and Naveed Qamar, the chairpersons of the Senate and National Assembly standing committees on finance, respectively, accompanied the president.

The president was also accompanied by Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi and other officials.

He also visited the Hunan Tea Group in Changsha “to explore Pakistan-China cooperation in agro-processing and value addition,” the Presidency posted on X.

“​The president was briefed on the supply chain mechanism and invited the group to bring their expertise in tea cultivation and exports to Pakistan,” the post said.