Pakistan and China sign MoU on cooperation in river fisheries

Pakistan and China on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote co-operation in river fisheries and related technologies. President Asif Ali Zardari was also present at the signing ceremony between Indus River Fresh Water Fisheries Research Institute and Pearl River Fishery Research Institute of Guangzhou.
From Pakistani side, the MoU was signed by Sindh Minster for Irrigation Murad Ali Shah and from Chinese side, it was signed by head of Pearl River Fishery Institute. Murad Ali told APP that under the MoU, China will collaborate with Pakistan for preparation of plans to undertake the research work in Pakistan on the same pattern as that of Pearl River Fishery Research Institute.
He said that the two sides would cooperate for development and manufacturing of floating feed for fish and technology for seed production of fresh water prawn and other high value fish. It also envisages fish disease diagnosis and its control and exchange of technology of breeding and culture of ornamental fishes.
The part of co-operation includes exchange of visits by experts in the related field and holding of workshops and symposia on various subjects related to the river fisheries. Murad Ali said that the President wants co-operation from China in the field of developing river fisheries to enhance its production in Pakistan. He said Pakistan has many opportunities to develop breeding programmes of local varieties of fish in collaboration with researchers from the institute.
The signing of this MoU, he added, is a step towards achieving this goal. In a meeting with President Zardari on Sunday, Secretary Communist Party of China Guangdong Committee, Wang Yang had stated that he would direct all the Chinese provincial departments that are signing MoUs with Pakistan, to honour their commitment.
Earlier on his arrival, President Zardari was briefed by the Institute''s officials about its research work. He was informed that the institute, established in 1953, has carried out 89 scientific researches at national level that over the years had greatly enhanced production of various types of fishes.
The President was also taken around the ponds where the fishes are kept and inseminated artificially. He also visited a hall named after Professor Zhong Lin, who is considered the founder of modern river fisheries in China, and was briefed about different varieties of fishes and other technical aspects of their breeding.