Punjab CM visits China to boost ties

A high-profile Pakistani delegation, led by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has achieved a significant milestone in Shanghai this week, deepening economic cooperation between Pakistan and China. The visit, which runs from December 8 to 15, focuses on attracting investments, expanding trade opportunities, and adopting insights from China's development model to accelerate growth in Punjab.

During her visit, Sharif held discussions with Zhu Zhongming, a senior official of the Shanghai Municipality. The two leaders explored avenues to enhance collaboration between Shanghai and local governments in Pakistan, focusing on business-oriented exchanges that could yield tangible economic benefits.

The delegation also visited the Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Centre, where they observed the Pakistan National Pavilion. The pavilion showcases Pakistani products such as textiles and handicrafts while incorporating live-streamed e-commerce promotions to introduce these goods to China's vast consumer market. This initiative is expected to open new doors for Pakistani exporters and boost the country's exports.

In line with Punjab's commitment to sustainability, the delegation toured a leading solar energy enterprise to discuss potential partnerships in renewable energy. These discussions focused on developing clean and sustainable energy solutions for the province.

The visit's pinnacle event was the Punjab Investment Conference, where the Bank of Punjab signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gobi Partners, a prominent venture capital firm in Asia. This partnership is set to promote investments in technology and innovation within Punjab by leveraging Gobi Partners' extensive regional expertise and resources.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif's visit underscores Punjab's dedication to forging strategic economic partnerships and adopting forward-thinking solutions to drive growth.