• Agreements aimed at strengthening trade and people-to-people ties
• President confers civil award on noted Chinese doctor

ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan and China on Monday signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in water desalination, agricultural technology, and the tea industry.

President Asif Ali Zard­ari, who is on a week-long visit to China until May 1, witnessed the signing of the MoUs between Pakist­ani and Chinese entities. The MoUs reflect a focused effort to advance practical collaboration in key sectors.

The first MoU was concluded between the Sindh local government and Lucion Environmental Technology Group for collaboration on a seawater desalination project in Karachi, aimed at increasing the city’s water supply.

The MoU was signed by Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Lucion Group’s Chairman Yuhui, also the secretary of the Party Branch.

Mr Memon also signed an MoU between the Sindh local government and Long Ping Hi-tech Inf­o­rmation Company for coo­peration in agricultural technology with the firm’s chairman, Chen Zhixin.

The third MoU was signed between Meskay & Femtee Trading Company, Hunan Tea Group and Jiaolong International Tec­h­nology (Hainan) to promote cooperation acr­oss all areas of the industry, with a view to supporting the development of the tea industry in both countries and strengthening economic, trade and people-to-people ties.

The MoU was signed from the Pakistani side by Senator Saleem Mandvi­walla and from the Chi­nese side by Hunan Tea Group Chairman Zhou Chon­gwang and Hao Jiaolong, Chairman of Hainan Jiaolong Intern­ational Trade Technology.

MNA Naveed Qamar, Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah, and Pakistan’s Amb­assador to China Khalil Hashmi were also present on the occasion.

President confers award

Separately, President Zardari conferred the Sitara-i-Pakistan award on Professor Pan Xiangbin in Changsha, “recognising his contributions to cardiac care, including treatment of Pakistani children with congenital heart disease and training of local medical professionals”, the Presi­dency said.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026