ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Chinese companies plan to hold an investment forum in Lahore next month after their top business associations signed an understanding to boost bilateral trade and investment, according to a statement on Thursday.
The memorandum of understanding between the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Guangzhou Chamber of Commerce and Industry aims to deepen commercial ties, including by setting up arbitration desks to resolve business disputes and reduce barriers to trade.
The move comes as Islamabad seeks to attract fresh Chinese investment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, amid efforts to position the country as a regional manufacturing and investment hub.
“China remains Pakistan’s most trusted and reliable economic partner,” FPCCI Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon said after the MoU was signed at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Guangzhou, highlighting Islamabad’s support for Beijing’s vision of inclusive global growth through international collaboration.
The statement said Chinese business representatives also highlighted their interest in renewable energy, information technology and agriculture as priority sectors for Chinese investment in Pakistan, describing the country as a promising and strategically important destination for Chinese capital.
“China’s current economic policy is firmly oriented toward global expansion, driven by high-tech transfer and increased outbound investment,” Guangzhou Chamber Chairman Richard Wu said. “Given the deep-rooted and time-tested relationship between the two nations, there is a strong inclination among Chinese businesses to establish industries on Pakistani soil.”
Wu described the planned business-to-business investment conference in Lahore on May 9–10 as the first of its kind, saying it would bring together Chinese investors and Pakistani companies to explore opportunities in sectors including home appliances, industrial equipment and energy storage.
