KARACHI, Jan 19: Consul General of People's Republic of China Sun Chunye has advised rice exporters to organize exhibitions and other promotional activities for the introduction of Pakistani rice in China.

During his visit to Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) here on Wednesday, the Chinese envoy further said that so far bilateral trade between the two countries had been mostly of industrial products but after the signing of protocol for purchase of mango by China and ongoing negotiations for rice, the farm products would also have their due share in trade.

Mr Chunye assured full cooperation and assistance in getting visa for REAP delegation to visit China and suggested that the association should contact the commercial section of the Consulate of China and also approach commercial consular of Pakistan in Beijing to provide all assistance and information in this regard.

However, the envoy suggested that besides taking delegation, REAP should also organized rice promotional event in China by holding special events and exhibitions and only then Chinese people would come to know about the qualities of Pakistani rice.

He further said that last year bilateral trade between China and Pakistan was to the tune of $3 billion but the trade was mostly of industrial products. He hoped that now with the cooperation of REAP the trade of farm products would also take place and rice would play an important role.

Earlier vice chairman REAP Muhammad Anwar Mianoor said that he has learnt from the Ministry of Agriculture that protocol for purchase of rice received from China had been agreed and forwarded back to China for final agreement.