Pakistani PM urges new steps to enhance relations

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on Sunday for turning the growing momentum in Pakistan-China cooperation into concrete agreements and real investment, as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and seek to expand practical collaboration in industry, investment and the digital economy.

Speaking at the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Sharif said that practical cooperation between the two countries is making positive progress and should now move toward faster implementation.

Pakistan is ready to deepen cooperation with China in areas including special economic zones, industrial development, infrastructure, rural development, water resources, skills training and employment promotion, he said.

Sharif noted that China's development experience and investment capacity are of great significance to Pakistan, which has a young population and hopes to strengthen skills training, education cooperation and capacity building.

Pakistan will work to create more convenient conditions for Chinese investors, including through better infrastructure, improved regulatory arrangements and one-window services, he added.

The business event brought together over 500 leading enterprises from China and Pakistan, representing sectors such as e-commerce, financial technology, artificial intelligence, gaming and animation, agriculture and battery energy storage systems.

Sources at the event indicated that Hangzhou was selected as the venue due to its reputation as a premier technological innovation hub in China. The conference aims to enhance targeted business matchmaking and investment cooperation in industrial technologies between Chinese and Pakistani companies across key sectors.

Pakistan sent to the event a high-profile delegation comprising several senior government ministers. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said the conference reflected their shared commitment to deeper economic and trade cooperation. The two countries' all-weather friendship is being translated into a more active and broader business partnership.

Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the Belt and Road Initiative have the potential to evolve into a broader "digital Silk Road", connecting the people, platforms and opportunities of the two countries.

Pakistan's growing digital economy, startup ecosystem and talent pool are creating new opportunities for cooperation in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, smart cities and digital infrastructure, she said.

Aamir Ibrahim, president and CEO of a financial enterprise in Pakistan, said China's progress in applying AI across different sectors offers valuable experience for Pakistani companies, while Pakistan's large market offers new opportunities for Chinese businesses.

Sharif arrived in Hangzhou on Saturday on the first leg of his four-day official visit to China. On Sunday, he met with CEOs of leading Chinese companies, visited the headquarters of Alibaba and attended a ceremony for the signing of cooperation memorandums of understanding before departing for Beijing.