By Zafar Hussain

BEIJING, July 20 (China Economic Net) Highlighting the deepening agricultural cooperation between China and Pakistan, foreign and Chinese researchers gathered in Beijing on Monday to stress the pivotal role of bilateral partnerships in expanding corn production, seed technological innovation, and cross-border grain trade.

The exchange took place during the 2026 Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Fresh Edible Corn Industry Development Conference, held alongside the Sino-Foreign Fresh Edible Corn Technical Exchange and Industrial Cooperation Seminar and the 12th Beijing Fresh Edible Corn Festival in Tongzhou District, Beijing.

Protocol Opens New Avenues for Export

Delivering a presentation titled "Resource Dilemma and Livelihood Evolution of Pakistan's Maize Industry," Prof. Audil Rashid Dean of Science and Chairperson of Department of Botany at the University of Gujrat, Pakistan, emphasized that expanding technical and trade linkages with China offers a vital path forward for rural farmers.

Prof. Rashid noted that the bilateral agricultural relationship has entered an accelerated phase following the execution of the official trade agreement. With both governments having signed the phytosanitary protocol and Chinese customs (GACC) granting access for Pakistani corn shipments local producers now possess a clear regulatory gateway to supply the vast Chinese market.

He highlighted that while Pakistan maintains substantial production capacity in field maize, joint ventures with Chinese institutes in high-value fresh edible varieties such as sweet and baby corn can enhance farm income and rural livelihoods.

Advancing Seed Tech & Germplasm Research

Outlining China's recent breakthroughs in crop research, Lu Baishan, senior researcher at the Maize Research Institute under the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS), presented on "Fresh Edible Corn Technological Innovation and New Variety Breeding."

Lu showcased how innovations in elite germplasm selection, stress resilience, and post-harvest quality retention are driving high-yield production. He affirmed that Chinese scientific institutions remain committed to exchanging technical expertise, modern breeding protocols, and resilient crop varieties with international partners like Pakistan to support sustainable regional agriculture.

The conference underlined that with official market clearance in place and joint research initiatives expanding, China-Pakistan corn cooperation stands as a key anchor of the agricultural agenda under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.