Chinese Ambassador Mr. Yao Jing called on Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Mr. Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan today in Islamabad. Pakistan and China are members of various organizations and being member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Pakistan has endorsed agreement on cooperation in agriculture between the governments of the member states of the organization. China produces food for 20% of the world’s population and it also imports huge quantity of food for its population. China is a strong force in South Asian region and CPEC opened up new venues of cooperation between two friendly neighbors. The Minister said that China is the 4th largest export market of Pakistan. It is heartening that both countries have signed free trade agreement (FTA) which has facilitated to expand bilateral trade. He further said that the Honorable Prime Minister’s visit in the first week of November, 2018 was very important as both sides signed (MoU) also on agriculture cooperation has also been signed on the same occasion followed by Chinese delegation’s visit to the Ministry of National Food Security. Chinese Ambassador Yao Ying said that we will formally invite Pak experts to monitor the hybrid rice seed experts to China and monitor the facility. Federal Minister said we are ready to resolve the issue of export of Chinese hybrid seed to Pakistan. The matter would be resolved through formal procedure of diplomatic channel. Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan said that we are moving ahead to collaborate in achieving FMD free zone and a memorandum of requirements for the establishment of FMD free zone is currently negotiated by both sides. He added that we believe in ease of doing business and if we collaborate for the elimination of FMD it will boost our meat export to China. Mehboob Sultan extended his invitation to Chinese experts to visit the three districts of Punjab which are identified as FMD free zone. He also expressed his desire that both countries in coming joint Working Group meeting, to deliberate upon working on establishing FMD vaccine plant in Pakistan with the Chinese assistance; and move towards self reliance in the subject.
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