• Premier arrives in Beijing to meet Chinese leadership
• Invites firms to relocate industries to Pakistan at B2B conference
• Several MoUs signed in meeting with Alibaba leadership
• Dar tells investors Pakistan is ‘open for business’
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spent a busy weekend in China’s economic hub of Hangzhou, where multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements “worth billions of dollars” were signed, before his arrival in Beijing on Sunday for key meetings with the Chinese leadership.
“During his stay in Beijing, the prime minister will hold high-level engagements, including meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang to further strengthen the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and advance cooperation under CPEC Phase-II, particularly in trade, investment, industry, agriculture, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges,” a statement issued by the PM’s Office said.
Earlier in Hangzhou, the premier addressed the opening ceremony of the third Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference, which focused on charging infrastructure, battery energy storage, solar technologies and pharmaceuticals.
In addition, Pakistani and Chinese companies signed agreements and MoUs worth more than $7bn to promote cooperation and investment across various sectors at the event.
Speaking at the conference, PM Shehbaz said the government would provide “all basic amenities” at special economic zones (SEZs) to encourage joint investments by Chinese and Pakistani entrepreneurs.
“You will be offered red-carpet treatment,” he said, adding that investors would be provided land on long-term leases at “very attractive terms and conditions”.
He highlighted four areas of importance for Pakistan-China cooperation: agriculture, information technology, SEZs, and mines and minerals.
“China imports about $100bn worth of agricultural products from abroad every year,” he said. “Pakistan’s share [in them] is only a fraction.”
He added that with China’s support and cooperation, Pakistan could produce agricultural goods in line with Chinese requirements in terms of quality and other standards.
“In the next five to seven years, we expect that we can increase our agricultural product trade with China by about $10bn,” he hoped.
The premier also highlighted that Karachi’s SEZ spanned over 6,000 acres.
Inviting Chinese investors to visit Karachi’s export zone, he said: “Be our guest; we’ll play host to you, and you’ll have great opportunities to understand business propositions.”
Pointing out that “labour in China has become pretty expensive” and that the country was moving towards a high level of industrialisation, PM Shehbaz invited Chinese companies to relocate their industries to Pakistan and pursue joint ventures with local entrepreneurs in various sectors.
PM Shehbaz also noted the “huge potential” of the IT and artificial intelligence sector, and highlighted Pakistan’s large deposits of minerals and gemstones to encourage Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in the mining sector.
He concluded by stressing that Pakistan was looking for “expertise, experience, investments … not loans, not aid, not handouts”.
Alibaba visit
PM Shehbaz also visited Alibaba Headquarters, where he witnessed the signing of several MoUs.
In a televised ceremony, PM Shehbaz met Alibaba chairman Joe Tsai, who outlined five areas the group aimed to work on with Pakistan: export, AI, fintech, healthcare, and human capital.
Addressing PM Shehbaz, the chairman outlined plans to “leverage Alibaba’s know-how and technology to help other countries such as Pakistan”, inviting small businesses and exporters to the platform.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s interest in expanding cooperation with the group.
He also engaged with leading Chinese enterprises, including StarCharge, CATL and Xiuzheng Pharmaceutical, to explore practical investment and industrial cooperation.
PM Shehbaz met with the CEO of Sheng Hou Neng Yuan Ke Ji Company, Agnes Siu, where the two discussed cooperation in renewable energy.
During the engagement, the premier apprised the CEO of the “increasing appetite” for renewable energy in Pakistan.
The premier also met CATL Executive President Oscar Lou and the two held discussions on “cooperation in advanced batteries, energy storage and solar-linked solutions to support Pakistan’s clean energy transition”.
In a meeting with Chairwoman of Starcharge Group Danwei Shao, discussions focused on charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and “smart mobility systems”.
During his meeting with President Xiuzheng Pharmaceuticals Xin Yuan, PM Shehbaz discussed “pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare cooperation and investment opportunities in Pakistan’s growing medical sector”.
Dar arrives in Beijing
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Beijing on Sunday, accompanied by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.
He was received at Beijing airport by vice minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Sun Haiyan.
“I will be later chief guest on behalf of PML-N, at the 2nd Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum and the 4th CPEC Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism, alongside H.E. Mr Liu Haixing, minister of the IDCPC,” Mr Dar said in a post on X.
Earlier in the day, Mr Dar also addressed the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference.
Speaking at the event, he described Chinese business leaders as central to Pakistan’s “economic transformation and industrial modernisation”.
“Pakistan is open for business. Pakistan is reforming. Pakistan is rising,” he said.
Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2026