PM Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Beijing on Sunday for high-level meetings with Chinese leaders as part of his four-day official visit to China aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The prime minister travelled to Beijing after concluding engagements in Hangzhou, where he addressed the Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Investment Conference and held meetings with Chinese government officials and corporate executives.
Upon his arrival in Beijing, PM Shehbaz was received by Chinese Minister for Environment and Ecology Huang Runqiu.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier will hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to further deepen the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
The discussions are expected to focus on CPEC Phase-II, trade, investment, industrial cooperation, agriculture, science and technology, information technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
During his address at the investment conference in Hangzhou, PM Shehbaz highlighted four major sectors for Pakistan-China collaboration: agriculture, information technology, special economic zones (SEZs), and mines and minerals.
He said Pakistan aimed to modernise its agricultural sector through advanced Chinese expertise, mechanisation, improved seeds, and modern farming practices. The prime minister also noted that China annually imports nearly $100 billion worth of agricultural products and expressed hope that Pakistan could significantly expand its share in the coming years.
The premier announced plans to increase agricultural exports to China by approximately $10 billion over the next five to seven years through closer bilateral cooperation.
Highlighting investment opportunities, PM Shehbaz invited Chinese firms to invest in Pakistan’s special economic zones, including a 6,000-acre zone in Karachi where investors would be offered long-term leases, modern infrastructure, and business-friendly facilities.
He also encouraged Chinese industries facing rising labour costs at home to relocate manufacturing operations to Pakistan through joint ventures with local entrepreneurs, particularly in sectors such as textiles and leather.
“We are looking for investment, expertise and experience — not loans or handouts,” the prime minister said, stressing the importance of sustainable economic partnerships.
The PMO said the prime minister also held separate meetings with senior executives from major Chinese firms, including CATL, StarCharge, Xiuzheng Pharmaceutical, and Sheng Huo Neng Yuan Ke Ji Company.
The discussions focused on renewable energy, battery storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and industrial investment opportunities in Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz also visited the headquarters of Alibaba Group, where he met Executive Chairman Joe Tsai and witnessed the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs).
During the meeting, Alibaba outlined plans to cooperate with Pakistan in exports, artificial intelligence, fintech, healthcare, and human capital development.
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also arrived in Beijing alongside Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal to participate in the Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum and discussions related to CPEC cooperation.
The Foreign Office earlier said the visit carried special significance as Pakistan and China mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, adding that the engagements were expected to strengthen political trust, strategic coordination, and economic cooperation between the two countries.