President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday underscored the importance of strengthening industrial and technological cooperation with China, where he visited a major heavy equipment manufacturer.
The president arrived in China on Saturday for a week-long visit covering Hunan and Hainan provinces, focusing on economic and trade cooperation. He will stay in Changsha until Monday before travelling to Sanya from April 28 to May 1.
On Sunday, President Zardari visited Sany Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. in Changsha, where Chairman Tang Xiuguo briefed him on the company’s advanced manufacturing systems, product lines, and investments in research and development (R&D).
Sany Group operates across a wide range of sectors, including construction and mining equipment, port machinery, oil drilling machinery, and renewable wind energy systems.
A post on X by the Presidency highlighted that the focus of the visit was on smart manufacturing, technology transfer in construction, and clean energy collaboration to modernise Pakistan’s infrastructure through global partnerships.
President Zardari appreciated the scale, sophistication, and technological depth of Sany’s manufacturing ecosystem, according to a statement by the President Secretariat’s Media Wing.
He emphasised the need to enhance cooperation in industrial technology, skill development, and joint ventures to support Pakistan’s infrastructure and industrial growth.
He also pointed to opportunities for collaboration in construction machinery, digital manufacturing, clean energy, and engineering solutions.
During the visit, the president received a detailed briefing on Sany’s core business areas, including concrete machinery, excavators, cranes, piling equipment, and road machinery.
He toured the company’s flagship No. 18 Factory, a digitally integrated facility known for advanced automation and data-driven production systems.
President Zardari was informed about the factory’s intelligent operations, high automation levels, and its status as a benchmark for modern industrial manufacturing.
He noted the significance of such technological integration for countries aiming to modernise industrial production and improve efficiency.
The president was also briefed on the company’s financial performance, including its 2024 operating revenue of $11.27 billion, product segmentation, and sustained investment in innovation and R&D.
Meanwhile, Tang Xiuguo reaffirmed Sany’s commitment to innovation, digitalisation, and international partnerships.
He highlighted the company’s ongoing operations in Pakistan and expressed readiness to expand cooperation in manufacturing, technology exchange, and capacity building.
Qian Lixia was also present on the occasion.
The president was accompanied by Saleem Mandviwalla and Naveed Qamar, chairpersons of the Senate and National Assembly standing committees on finance, respectively.
Other members of the delegation included Sharjeel Inam Memon, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, and other officials.
President Zardari also visited the Hunan Tea Group in Changsha to explore cooperation in agro-processing and value addition between Pakistan and China.
According to a Presidency post on X, he was briefed on the group’s supply chain mechanisms and invited it to bring expertise in tea cultivation and exports to Pakistan.