Cooperation with China: Pak envoy calls for enhancing economic diplomacy, innovation

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Khalil Hashmi on Tuesday emphasised the need for Pakistan to strengthen economic diplomacy, innovation, industrialisation and regional connectivity to fully benefit from growing Pakistan-China cooperation.

He was addressing a luncheon hosted for the Karachi business community by the Foreign Affairs Liaison Office, where business leaders, industrialists, exporters, entrepreneurs and stakeholders from the agriculture, fisheries, logistics, technology and manufacturing sectors participated.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said the world was witnessing a major transformation where economic strength, innovation, connectivity, supply chains and technology had become the new instruments of global influence.

He said China had successfully transformed itself into one of the world’s leading economic powers through strategic planning, institutional discipline, investment in human capital and technological advancement. He also termed China, a land of opportunities.

Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Hashmi termed it a project of “destiny, opportunity and regional transformation,” adding that the initiative should now move beyond roads and energy projects towards industrialization, technology transfer, innovation, agriculture modernisation and business-to-business connectivity.

He said Pakistan must learn from China’s development model by focusing on industrial clustering, export competitiveness, smart infrastructure, digital payments, agricultural modernization and innovation-driven economic growth.

The ambassador said Pakistan needed to transition from raw agriculture to value-added agri-processing, from seafood exports to modern fisheries systems, from traditional textiles to technical textiles, and from outsourcing to innovation-based industries.

Highlighting Karachi’s importance, he described the city as Pakistan’s economic heartbeat and a key bridge connecting South Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region and Africa through trade, finance and logistics.

He stressed that modern diplomacy could no longer remain limited to political dialogue alone, adding that diplomats must also serve as facilitators for trade, technology, investment and strategic partnerships.

Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said the future phase of CPEC should focus on markets, technology, digital economies, SMEs, startups and human capital development, particularly empowering Pakistan’s youth to become entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders.

He further said that countries failing to innovate in the emerging global order risked becoming irrelevant, adding that economic diplomacy must become Pakistan’s national doctrine.

The ambassador reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China, expressing confidence that bilateral cooperation would further expand through stronger trade, joint ventures, research collaboration, smart logistics and shared prosperity.

Concluding his address, he urged the business community to think bigger, plan longer and act faster for Pakistan’s economic transformation, while reiterating the slogan: “Pakistan-China friendship forever.”

He also responded questions of business community members regarding trade and investment opportunities.

Earlier, Consul General of People’s Republic of China in Karachi, Yang Yundong and Director General Foreign Affairs Liaison Office Irfan Soomro spoke on the occasion.