On 23rd July 2025, the Opening Ceremony to welcome the second batch of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s 1000 Agriculture Training Programme (PM Initiative) was held at Southwest University of Science and Technology (SWUST), Mianyang.

The Consul General, Mr. Tanvir A. Bhatti, attended the event, alongside Party Secretary Yang Junhui of the University. The Ceremony welcomed 100 Pakistani agriculture professionals to start their six months training on two core priority areas of Pakistan i.e. Crop breeding, and Genomics.

The Consul General, in his opening remarks, congratulated SWUST for being the few institutions in China, which had made the PM Initiative a reality. Welcoming the Pakistani professionals, he said that by learning from Chinese best practices, they would go back home to be the resources for Pakistani leadership and contribute to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor becoming green, leading to the country’s food security and prosperity.

In his opening remarks, Party Secretary mentioned that it was SWUST’s pleasure to welcome further deepening of cooperation between China and Pakistan, through this initiative.

Wang Lasha, Director of International Cooperation, at the Provincial Education Department of Sichuan, stated that the trainings given to the professionals would be the starting point of a new type of cooperation between the countries, and will contribute to efforts to address food security and climate change.

Mashallah Zubair, Programme Director, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, thanked the University and Chinese authorities to formulating a tailored course, based on Pakistan’s priorities, and wished the professionals best of luck in their training.

Liu Jikai, Faculty Representative of SWUST, while welcoming the professionals, said that the course, is tailor made for the Pakistani students, would directly contribute to both theory and practice in the farming and agriculture fields, and at the end of the training, would allow the participants to directly help Pakistani farmers improve yields and livelihoods.

The 100 Pakistani professionals attending the training, represents the first cohort of the second batch of professionals which have come to China, under the PM Initiative, and the first to Southwest China. The courses have been specifically designed according to Pakistani needs, with a focus on practical training and industry placements.

Deputy Consul General and Consulate representatives, Vice President of SWUST, officials from Mianyang Municipal Government, and other officials from both the municipal government and SWUST administration, were present.

Mianyang

23rd July 2025