China, Pakistan sign new cooperation deals in water, robotics, and media projects

BEIJING: China and Pakistan have taken another major step toward deepening their economic and technological collaboration, signing three new cooperation agreements under the framework of the Office for Asia-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion at China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The latest deals cover a clean water project, a media city initiative, and a transport robotics program, marking a fresh expansion of bilateral partnership into sustainable development and smart technology.

According to Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Chairman of Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, who witnessed the signing, the sewage treatment, bottled mineral water, and seawater desalination projects will be undertaken by Chinese environmental technology firm Lucion. The initiative, based in Sindh province, aims to ease the region’s chronic water crisis by introducing advanced Chinese purification and desalination technologies.

The transport robotics project, led by a Shanghai-based technology firm, will be implemented across Pakistan, introducing smart delivery and guidance robots in hotels, hospitals, and airports—a step toward automation in the country’s growing service and hospitality sectors.

“China is already highly advanced in smart technologies,” Senator Mandviwalla said. “Pakistan wants to learn from that experience. When our president visited China in September, we saw robots delivering meals in hotels and assisting travelers in airports—we want to bring such innovations to Pakistan.”

He also announced plans to establish a China-Pakistan Asia-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Association, aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, investment partnerships, media collaboration, and cultural exchanges, according to China Economic Net.

Cultural and media cooperation expands

Cultural engagement between the two countries is also gaining momentum. Following the successful screening of the Chinese record-breaking animated film Ne Zha 2 in Pakistan, the country’s highest-grossing movie, The Legend of Maula Jatt, is set to debut in Chinese cinemas — a milestone in cross-cultural collaboration between the two film industries.

Recognizing the expanding role of Chinese enterprises in Pakistan’s industrial and energy sectors, Mandviwalla stressed the importance of aligning with China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). “It’s not a plan for China only—it’s a global plan,” he said. “Pakistan should seize every opportunity it presents.”

Economic optimism and recovery

Addressing Pakistan’s broader economic outlook, Mandviwalla said the country’s inflation rate has dropped from 40 percent last year to below 10 percent, while interest rates have declined and overall economic indicators are improving.

“We have to grow carefully, because rapid expansion can also bring inflation,” he noted. “But our fundamentals are strengthening.”

He cited the record-breaking performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as a reflection of rising investor confidence.

“Sectors such as energy, cement, banking, and automobiles are performing strongly with double-digit profits,” Mandviwalla said. “That is why the stock exchange is at its highest level ever.”