Pakistan and China trade relations: FPCCI Regional Office hosts consultative session

LAHORE: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Office in Lahore hosted a high-level consultative session focused on strengthening bilateral trade relations between Pakistan and China.

The meeting was graced by the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China, Sun Yan, who paid an official visit to the FPCCI Regional Office. The session was chaired by FPCCI Regional Chairman and Vice President Zaki Ejaz.

Zaki Ejaz proposed the establishment of a Joint Business Working Group to enhance the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation and extended a formal invitation to Chinese companies to relocate their industries to Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs). He highlighted tax concessions, duty-free machinery imports, and Pakistan’s GSP Plus status as significant competitive advantages that position the country as an attractive destination for Chinese industrial investment. Both sides emphasized the need to accelerate CPEC 2.0 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations, with industrial development, technology transfer, and business-to-business partnerships identified as central pillars of this renewed momentum.

Consul General Sun Yan described Pakistan and China as “all-weather strategic partners” and noted that CPEC 2.0 is generating new opportunities for the private sector, particularly in industry, agricultural modernisation, and innovation. He added that China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, centered on developing “new quality productive forces” would further broaden the scope of bilateral cooperation. He also assured attendees that the Chinese Consulate is playing an active role in promoting business linkages, with ongoing progress being made in coordination with relevant authorities in Beijing regarding business visa facilitation and policy support.

The meeting was attended by prominent business figures, including Shahzad Ali Malik, Dr Shahla Javed Akram, Nazir Hussain, President of the Pak-China Joint Chamber, Mian Nadeem Bari, President of the Nankana Chamber of Commerce, Kashif Khokhar, Tariq Mahmood, as well as chairpersons from various trade associations and representatives of regional chambers. Business leaders present at the session stressed the importance of expanding agricultural cooperation and establishing technical and vocational training centres aligned with industrial requirements.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026