Webinar: China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation under CPEC Achievements and Challenges.

The Centre for BRI and China Studies at the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies organized a highly informative webinar on China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). "China-Pakistan Agricultural Cooperation under CPEC: Achievements and Challenges," the webinar aimed to provide valuable insights into the progress, challenges, and opportunities in the agricultural cooperation between China and Pakistan. The event brought together experts, professionals, and scholars in agriculture to exchange their insights, discuss best practices, and explore possibilities for further collaboration.

Participants were provided with a platform to delve into the achievements and challenges encountered in agricultural cooperation between the two countries within the framework of CPEC. Dr. Farhat Asif, the President of IPDS, led the webinar. She highlighted the significance of the webinar's focus, particularly in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) advancing in a post-COVID world. She stressed the need for heightened awareness and discussion on various aspects, such as agriculture, considering that Pakistan's economy heavily relies on this sector, accounting for 70% of its GDP. Julie Zhu Xiaobo - General Manager and Senior Agronomist at Wuhan Qingfa Hesheng Seed CO. Ltd is a member of the Field Crops Section Boards, International Seed Federation (ISF), and the Executive Committee of the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA).

She focused on the importance of introducing hybrid rice and canola technology to Pakistan to improve Pakistan's exports. Wuhan Qingfa Seed CO. Ltd has invested in hybrid rice technology in Pakistan, especially in upper and lower Sindh. It has already invested in technology transfer and farmers' training, so a knowledge-sharing platform is essential to China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation. Not only this, Corporate Social Responsibility (SCR) is also a vital part of Wuhan Qingfa Seed CO. Ltd in Pakistan. In this respect, it has invested heavily in farmers in Balochistan, especially after the 2022 floods hit Balochistan severely. She elaborated on various agricultural exchanges introduced by her company in Pakistan at the district and city levels and village levels, where it has provided micro-oil press units. Alan Xi - Executive Director (Agriculture Business) at China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC Group), gave a detailed account of companies working...