Petroleum minister invites Chinese investment

Says top Pakistani firms are looking to collaborate with Shaanxi companies

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Petroleum, Dr Musadik Malik, on Friday invited Chinese enterprises, particularly those from Shaanxi province, to invest in Pakistan's energy and petroleum sectors.

In his opening remarks at the China (Shaanxi)-Pakistan Conference for Economic and Trade Cooperation, held on the sidelines of the 8th Silk Road International Expo in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, Malik said, "Top companies from Pakistan specialising in upstream, midstream, and downstream petroleum and coal are looking to collaborate with Shaanxi companies through investment, joint ventures, and technology transfer," according to a press release.

The minister emphasised that this invitation was part of Pakistan's broader efforts to attract foreign direct investment to strengthen infrastructure and energy production—key areas for the country's socioeconomic development.

Malik highlighted efforts to deepen provincial-level cooperation by enhancing business-to-business (B2B) linkages in sectors like mining, petroleum, energy, and technology. He described the 8th Silk Road International Expo as more than a celebration of trade and investment, calling it "a celebration of the spirit of cooperation that defines the relationship between Pakistan and China."

He noted that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its flagship project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), are not merely infrastructure projects, but platforms for peace, prosperity, and global development.

The minister reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to creating shared growth, sustainable development, and long-lasting friendship with China through win-win cooperation. He thanked the Chinese government and the Provincial Government of Shaanxi for organising the conference and inviting Pakistan as the Guest Country of Honour, as well as for setting up the Pakistan Pavilion at the expo.

Malik also underlined the historical significance of Xi'an and Shaanxi provinces as the starting points of the ancient Silk Road and the BRI, launched by President Xi Jinping. He described Pakistan's participation in the expo as a tangible follow-up to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Xi'an earlier this year.

"Our long-standing friendship and strategic partnership with China is based on mutual trust, benefit, and support. We are committed to strengthening our ironclad relationship in energy, economy, investment, trade, and other areas," Malik said, emphasising the expanding partnership between the two nations.

He also highlighted the importance of bilateral economic cooperation, particularly under the CPEC framework, which remains central to Pakistan's growth strategy.