Pakistani mangoes a 'star product' of bilateral ties

With their golden hue, intoxicating aroma and honeyed sweetness, Pakistani mangoes filled the air — and the conversation — at a Mango Festival in Beijing on Wednesday, where officials from both nations celebrated the fruit as a delicious emblem of China-Pakistan friendship and a ripe opportunity for deeper trade ties.

Hosted by the Pakistan embassy in Beijing, the event brought together government representatives, business leaders, and cultural envoys. The festival highlighted how a single golden fruit has come to embody decades of cultural warmth and a fast-growing agricultural partnership between the two countries.

Saleem Mandviwalla, chairman of the Senate Finance and Budget Committee of Pakistan, described Pakistan as the "Land of Mangoes", famed for varieties that are fragrant, juicy, and uniquely flavorful.

"Mangoes are more than an economic crop; they are a cultural symbol of our famed hospitality. As our proverb says, 'Share a mango, gain a friendship'." He expressed hope the festival would expand trade, bring premium Pakistani mangoes to more Chinese consumers, and attract Chinese investment in Pakistan's agricultural technology, cold-chain logistics, and processing industries.