President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday underscored the importance of bolstering industrial and technological cooperation with China, where he visited a heavy equipment manufacturer.

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.

On Sunday, President Zardari 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.