DNA
LAHORE, Nov 4: Pakistan and China’s Xinjiang Province and have set to explore wide-ranging opportunities to strengthen bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, with particular focus on agriculture, textiles, food processing, livestock, technology transfer, cross-border e-commerce, hospitality, tourism and regional connectivity.
These views were expressed by Leader of the Chinese Delegation Ha Zengyou while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar presented the address of welcome while Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of China Yang Guangyuan, LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani, Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain and former LCCI President Shahzad also spoke on the occasion.
Yang Guangyuan, Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of China, and other distinguished Chinese delegates also attended the meeting, along with LCCI Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain, former LCCI President Sarwar Malik, former Senior Vice President Zeeshan Khalil, and Executive Committee members Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim, Sahir Mushtaq, Adeel Babar Khan, Muhammad Umer Abdullah, Naila Nadeem, Shahzad Mahmood, Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhry, Muhammad Ijaz Ghouri, Tariq Mahmood and Ali Raza, among others. Mr. He Haitao, a university teacher from Hong Kong, was also welcomed at the gathering.
Leader of the Chinese Delegation Ha Zengyou, said that government-level agreements could achieve their full potential only when entrepreneurs and businesses came forward to translate them into economically viable projects. He said XPCC and Lahore had complementary industrial strengths and supply chains, offering considerable potential for cooperation in agriculture, textiles, manufacturing, trade and infrastructure.
Presenting a four-pronged framework for cooperation, he identified agriculture and food processing, textiles, new trade channels and connectivity and infrastructure as priority areas.
He said that in agriculture, Pakistan had strong potential in fruits, vegetables, seafood, berries, nuts and other agricultural products, while XPCC possessed expertise in standardized cultivation, livestock raising, agricultural processing, cold-chain storage and export-oriented supply chains. He said that some agricultural products from Xinjiang were already being exported to Pakistan and said XPCC was interested in developing reliable sources of competitively priced overseas raw materials while further strengthening its access to South Asian markets.
On textiles, he said Pakistan had considerable strengths in cotton spinning and weaving, while XPCC possessed an integrated textile industry, downstream processing capacity and an experienced workforce.
Offering support to Lahore Chamber and business community, he said XPCC could facilitate businesses in understanding Chinese policies, customs procedures and taxation matters. He proposed establishing a regular communication mechanism between economic zones and chambers of commerce to strengthen institutional coordination and direct business engagement.
LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar said Pakistan and China enjoyed a longstanding, time-tested friendship that needed to be translated into stronger business partnerships, investment and practical economic cooperation.
He said that the visiting delegation represented sectors including textiles, agriculture, livestock, poultry, food processing and irrigation, all of which offered significant opportunities for collaboration with Pakistan. He said that Punjab is the country’s agricultural heartland and an important textile center, while highlighting Xinjiang’s experience in cotton production, modern irrigation systems, agricultural mechanization and livestock development.
The LCCI President identified water-efficient farming, improved cotton productivity, food processing, packaging, cold-chain facilities and halal meat production as promising areas for joint ventures and technology-based cooperation.
The LCCI President also invited Chinese investors to explore opportunities in Punjab’s industrial infrastructure, industrial estates and CPEC Special Economic Zones, highlighting the province’s skilled workforce and access to important regional markets.
LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani said that Lahore’s strategic location, developed transport network and access to major trade routes connecting western, eastern and southern markets made it an attractive destination for international investors. In a significant proposal, Sardar Usman Ghani suggested establishing a Chinatown in Lahore where Chinese nationals, professionals and investors could live and work in a dedicated community environment supported by appropriate security arrangements and necessary facilities. He said such an initiative could help create a more welcoming environment for Chinese investors and professionals in Lahore and Punjab.
Former LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik highlighted the strategic importance of cotton for Pakistan’s agricultural economy and textile industry, stressing the need to benefit from China’s expertise in cotton cultivation, seed development, crop management and modern irrigation technologies.
He said Xinjiang and XPCC had developed valuable experience in cotton production and agricultural practices that could help Pakistan improve domestic cotton output. He referred to ongoing collaboration with China’s Jinghua Seed Industry Company in seed production and variety improvement, expressing hope that similar cooperation with XPCC could help increase cotton yields and strengthen the country’s cotton sector.
He pointed out that Pakistan’s annual cotton production, which had historically reached around 15 million bales, had declined to approximately 5 to 6 million bales, forcing the country to import cotton from markets such as the United States and Brazil to meet the requirements of its textile industry.
