Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan and China have signed 21 memorandums of understanding and joint ventures worth $4.2 billion, spanning sectors such as agriculture, industry, health, trade, mining, and minerals.
These deals came during the second Pakistan–China B2B Investment Conference held in Beijing, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to investor facilitation, pledging the removal of any “hiccups” in investment procedures.
The prime minister described the deep-rooted bond between the two nations as “higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the deepest oceans, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel,” highlighting the strategic and emotional dimensions underpinning the Pakistan‑China relationship.
Held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which Sharif attended on September 1st, the B2B conference served as a platform for direct engagement between Pakistani and Chinese business leaders.
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Sharif also held discussions with several top world leaders, including China’s President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit.
One notable announcement during the PM’s visit was the launch of phase two of the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Launched in 2015, CPEC represents a multi-billion-dollar network of infrastructure projects, roads, rail, ports, and energy. To date, approximately $33 billion worth of Chinese investment has been mobilized, with around $25.4 billion already implemented and about $8 billion in progress.
Under “CPEC 2.0,” Pakistan aims to transition beyond traditional infrastructure-focused collaboration, expanding into sectors such as industry, agriculture, information technology, and the development of special economic zones.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
