Pakistan, China sign 5 MoUs at Guangzhou investment forum

September 2, 2026 (MLN): The fifth Pakistan Investment & Business Environment Exchange Forum 2026 brought together more than 160 government officials, business executives and trade representatives in Guangzhou, China, with participants exploring new opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment.

Held through a hybrid online and in-person format, the forum focused on strengthening economic cooperation between Pakistan and China while marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, according to APP.

The event was hosted by the Guangzhou International Cooperation Center (GICC) and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Guangzhou, while Mera PC Solution (Guangzhou) and the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized the forum.

The programme included policy discussions, investment project presentations, industrial signing ceremonies, business-to-business meetings and product showcases. Pakistani mangoes were also featured as part of efforts to promote agricultural and food trade between the two countries.

Addressing the forum through a video message, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain called for stronger agricultural and commercial linkages between Pakistan and China.

He said Pakistan aims to establish a dependable and sustainable supply chain with Chinese buyers rather than focusing solely on increasing mango export volumes, describing the fruit as one of Pakistan’s key agricultural products.

Yang Guangyuan, Minister-Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, highlighted the rapid growth in bilateral trade. He said Pakistan’s exports to China reached $1.87 billion during January-June 2026, representing a 50.3% increase from the corresponding period a year earlier.

He encouraged businesses from both countries to use the platform to identify new commercial opportunities and strengthen economic collaboration.

Tu Hongzhe, a deputy director general-level official at the Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office, pointed to the longstanding relationship between Guangzhou and Lahore as sister cities.

He said the two cities had developed cooperation in areas including light manufacturing, agricultural trade, transit trade, information technology, leather and footwear, while significant potential remained for further expansion.

Pakistan’s Trade and Investment Counsellor in Guangzhou, Muhammad Imran, said Pakistan’s exports to Guangdong increased to $227.73 million between January and June 2026, compared with $188.57 million during the same period of the previous year, marking growth of around 21%.

He attributed the increase mainly to copper anode exports and a significant rise in broken rice shipments.

Meanwhile, Guangdong’s exports to Pakistan amounted to $3.352bn in 2025, underscoring the growing trade links between the two economies.

Muzammil Zia, Director General of the CPEC Secretariat at Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, outlined the role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in supporting industrial and infrastructure collaboration.

Representing the private sector, Uzair Iqbal of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry stressed the business community’s interest in developing long-term partnerships with Chinese companies.

Chinese business representatives, including James Yu, General Manager of the Corporate Business Division at SGMW Overseas Department, and Leo Lee of Farshine Medical Technology, shared their experiences in cross-border investment and trade.

Mandy Guo, Director of GICC, reaffirmed the center’s intention to provide a platform for sustained cooperation between businesses and government institutions in Guangdong and Pakistan.

Project presentations at the forum covered a range of sectors, including new energy solutions, e-commerce, home furnishings, building materials and food processing, highlighting areas with potential for increased investment and trade.

The forum concluded with the signing of five memorandums of understanding covering electric vehicle joint-venture promotion, battery manufacturing, building materials and furniture, pine nut procurement, and international medical and business tourism.

The agreements marked a concrete step toward expanding commercial engagement and creating new avenues for investment between Pakistani and Chinese businesses.

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