A historic surge in Chinese corporate engagement marked the 4th International Health, Engineering, and Minerals Exhibition (HEMS) in Lahore, underscoring the accelerating economic collaboration between China and Pakistan. Per the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing, over 200 Chinese enterprises attended this year’s event—doubling the 2024 figure—solidifying China’s position as the largest foreign delegation. The Embassy credited this growth to coordinated initiatives by its Beijing headquarters and consular offices in Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.
During the three-day expo, more than 150 Chinese firms engaged in sector-specific B2B discussions spanning healthcare, engineering, and mining, culminating in 37 memorandums of understanding (MoUs), letters of intent (LOIs), and contracts exceeding $435 million. Notable agreements included a $60 million quartz stone export pact with a $10 million investment provision, a $50 million commitment by a Chinese firm to develop mineral resources, a $45 million joint venture for medical equipment production, and an $80 million electric vehicle technology transfer contract.
Chinese investors further demonstrated interest in Pakistan’s salt, copper, fluorite, gemstone, IT, real estate, and product branding sectors. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif hosted a diplomatic dinner attended by 800 delegates from 50 nations, where he lauded the Chinese delegation’s unprecedented presence. “The Ambassador and his team have played a pivotal role in fostering this milestone collaboration,” Sharif remarked, acknowledging efforts to strengthen bilateral economic ties.
On the sidelines, Pakistan’s Ambassador convened with the Chinese Consul General in Lahore and Punjab’s Chief Secretary, Additional Secretary of the Board of Investment (BOI), and other senior officials. At a Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) roundtable, the Ambassador outlined the Embassy’s investor facilitation strategies, emphasizing tailored B2B engagements across agriculture, industry, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The Embassy further collaborated with Habib Rafiq (Pvt.) Ltd. to organize a networking luncheon, uniting prominent Chinese and Pakistani business figures to explore partnerships in minerals, construction, and automotive industries.
