ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday witnessed the signing of three memorandums of understanding between Pakistani and Chinese entities in Changsha, covering desalination, agricultural technology and tea industry cooperation.
The MoUs reflect a focused effort to advance practical collaboration in key sectors. The first MoU was concluded between the local government, Sindh, and the Lucion Environmental Technology Group for collaboration on a seawater desalination project in Karachi aimed at increasing the city’s supply of water. The MoU was signed from the Pakistani side by Sharjeel Inam Memon, Sindh senior minister, and from the Chinese side by Yuhui, secretary of the Party Branch and Chairman of Lucion Environmental Technology Group.
The second MoU between the local government, Sindh and the Long Ping Hi-tech Information Company provides for cooperation in agricultural technology. The MoU was signed by Sharjeel and Chen Zhixin, chairman of the Longping High-Tech Information Company.
The third MoU related to tea sector was signed between the 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 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 Zhou Chongwang, party secretary and chairman of the Hunan Tea Group, and Hao Jiaolong, chairman of the Hainan Jiaolong International Trade Technology.
Naveed Qamar, special assistant to chief minister, Sindh, Ali Hassan Barohi, chief secretary, Sindh, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi were present.
Meanwhile, the president conferred the Sitara-i-Pakistan upon Prof Pan Xiangbin at a special investiture ceremony held in Changsha, China on Monday, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to cardiac care and his services to patients in Pakistan.
Prof Pan Xiangbin, an interventional cardiologist and cardiac surgeon, is vice president of the Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and director of the National Interventional Quality Control Centre for Structural Heart Disease. He has led the development of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, with a number of world-first innovations and patented medical solutions to his credit, including ultrasound-guided interventional techniques that enable treatment without surgery, radiation exposure or general anaesthesia.
He visited Pakistan in January 2025, where he and his team performed life-saving procedures on children suffering from congenital heart disease and conducted specialised training for Pakistani medical professionals in advanced interventional techniques.
The president noted that these efforts have strengthened Pakistan’s healthcare capacity and reflect the tangible benefits of Pakistan-China cooperation.
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla; Sharjeel Inam Memon, Ali Hassan Barohi, Naveed Qamar, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi were present.
