SLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musadik Malik has urged Chinese enterprises, especially those from Shaanxi province, to invest in Pakistan’s energy and petroleum sectors. His remarks were made during the China (Shaanxi)-Pakistan Conference for Economic and Trade Cooperation, held alongside the 8th Silk Road International Expo in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province.
Malik emphasized that leading Pakistani companies specializing in upstream, midstream, and downstream petroleum and coal are eager to collaborate with Shaanxi businesses through investment, joint ventures, and technology transfer. This invitation is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to attract foreign direct investment, aimed at strengthening infrastructure and energy production—critical areas for the country’s socioeconomic development.
The minister also highlighted efforts to enhance provincial-level cooperation by improving business-to-business (B2B) linkages in sectors such as mining, petroleum, energy, and technology. He referred to the expo not only as a celebration of trade and investment but also as a manifestation of the cooperative spirit that defines Pakistan-China relations.
Malik reiterated that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its flagship project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), are more than infrastructure projects; they represent platforms for peace, prosperity, and global development.
He expressed Pakistan’s commitment to fostering shared growth, sustainable development, and a long-lasting friendship with China through win-win cooperation. The minister also thanked the Chinese government and the Provincial Government of Shaanxi for organizing the conference and for inviting Pakistan as the Guest Country of Honour, as well as for establishing the Pakistan Pavilion at the expo.
Highlighting Xi’an and Shaanxi’s historical significance as starting points of the ancient Silk Road, Malik described Pakistan’s participation in the expo as a continuation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Xi’an earlier this year. He affirmed that the enduring friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China is grounded in mutual trust and support, emphasizing their commitment to strengthening ties in energy, economy, investment, and trade under the CPEC framework, which remains central to Pakistan’s growth strategy.
