KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah met with the top leadership of Hubei on Wednesday in Wuhan, China, to explore broader provincial-level collaboration in agriculture, information technology, education and vocational training.

Leading a high-level delegation during his official visit to Wuhan, Mr Shah held comprehensive talks with Hubei Governor Li Dianxun and provincial Communist Party Secr­etary Guan Xiaotao.

The discussions focused on translating the decades-old Pakistan-China friendship into tangible socioeconomic development projects, enhancing trade and boosting people-to-people exchanges.

According to a CM House press release, the Hubei governor welcomed Mr Shah and his delegation to Wuhan and lauded the deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and China, describing it as an unbreakable bond of mutual trust and strategic cooperation.

He expressed Hubei’s strong commitment to deepening sub-national coop­eration with Sindh, noting that the province’s robust industrial base, advanced manufacturing capabilities and world-class research institutions offered significant potential for joint ventures.

He assured the delegation that Hubei is keen to expand collaboration in modern agriculture, digital industries, vocational training and business-to-business partnerships, paving the way for mutually beneficial growth under the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Emphasising that the Pakistan-China alliance remains the cornerstone of Islamabad’s foreign policy, Mr Shah noted that the relationship has successfully weathered all regional and global challenges.

He highlighted the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on May 21, 1951, and expressed pride that Pakistan was among the first nations to recognise the People’s Republic of China.

CM Shah welcomed Hubei enterprises to actively participate in the next phase of CPEC, particularly focusing on green growth, agricultural modernisation and skills development.

Agriculture focal point of discussions

The Sindh chief minister thanked China for training 1,000 Pakistani agricultural graduates, many of whom studied at Huazhong Agricultural Univ­ersity.

He welcomed ongoing partnerships in horticultural crop research and the establishment of a joint laboratory for smart and digital agriculture.

Highlighting Sindh’s potential in agricultural production, he sought Hubei’s expertise in hybrid rice, high-yield seed development and farm mechanisation.

He stressed the need for advanced cold-chain logistics to minimise post-harvest losses of Sindh’s high-quality fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and fisheries products, thereby improving market access.

The chief minister also invited Chinese firms to invest in pilot projects spanning port logistics, industrial automation and urban traffic management in Karachi.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2026