Chinese delegation explores investment opportunities

LAHORE: An eleven-member Chinese delegation from Xinjiang province, led by the mayor of Yecheang and Wang Xiangbing, chairperson of the Belt and Road International United Group, visited Pakistan at the invitation of the Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI).

The PCJCCI facilitated their visits to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Investment, and various historical sites. The delegation expressed interest in sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure investment and the iron and steel processing industry.

Delegation members included Wang Xiangbing; General Manager of Kashgar Huada Construction Engineering Co Ltd Liu Jiading; Chairman of Yecheng Kerry Steel Structure Co Ltd Jiang Xinhua; General Manager of Yecheng Changda Wood Industry Co Ltd Zhu Chuanbin; Deputy General Manager of Yecheng Changda Wood Industry Co Ltd Zhu Houhao; and Assistant to the Chairman of the Belt and Road International United Group Chen Zhiyi.

Nazir Hussain, president of the PCJCCI, highlighted that China’s large-scale development of solar power, driven by innovation and a robust industrial chain, has significantly reduced production costs, making renewable energy products more accessible globally. He noted that Pakistan, with its favourable government policies and incentives for solar energy, stands to benefit from China’s expertise and resources. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has also bolstered solar energy cooperation between the two nations.

Xiangbing remarked that CPEC’s positive impact is expected to benefit Pakistan’s construction sector significantly. Frequent interactions between Chinese delegations and local businessmen reflect the rising demand for construction and efforts to meet this demand. He encouraged Chinese entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities and joint ventures in Pakistan’s construction industry.

Zafar Iqbal, vice president of the PCJCCI, said that the introduction of cost-effective, space-efficient, and environmentally friendly Chinese construction materials could revolutionise the construction sector here. He highlighted that the construction industry, the second-largest sector after textiles, is a vital source of employment generation in the country.