PM Shehbaz meets Chinese delegation on digital economy cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met a high-level 11-member Chinese business delegation led by Qian Xiaojun, founder, president and controlling shareholder of IBI Beijing United Technology, at the Prime Minister’s House, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The PMO said the prime minister welcomed the delegation to Pakistan and described Pakistan and China as countries with historic ties and as All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners. He also praised the progress made by China under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and said he was looking forward to visiting China later this month.

During the meeting, the prime minister appreciated the IBI Group’s decision to set up its Pakistan digital economy headquarters in the country. He expressed satisfaction over the increasing level of business-to-business cooperation between Pakistan and China.

According to the PMO, Shehbaz said it was encouraging that IBI would advance cooperation in the digital economy, investment promotion and industrial collaboration. The statement added that he also expressed confidence in Pakistan’s economy.

IBI outlines digital transformation plans

Qian told the meeting that IBI hoped to help create a digital backbone for the transformation of Pakistan’s economy. He said the establishment of the company’s digital economy headquarters in Pakistan would serve as a command centre for that process.

He added that the initiative would open up significant opportunities for Pakistan’s small and medium-sized enterprises by giving them access to the Chinese market.

He said Pakistan and China enjoyed historic ties and the two countries were All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners.

The PMO said the delegation’s visit to Pakistan was a follow-up to the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference held in Beijing in September 2025 during the prime minister’s visit.

Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistant on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and other senior officials also attended the meeting.

Separate meeting with Azerbaijan’s justice minister

A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed visiting Azerbaijan Justice Minister Farid Turab Oglu Ahmadov and said ties between Pakistan and Azerbaijan were becoming stronger with each passing day.

During that meeting, the prime minister described Pakistan and Azerbaijan as brotherly countries and conveyed his greetings to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, recalling their telephone conversation earlier this week.

Ahmadov thanked Pakistan for the hospitality extended to him and briefed the prime minister on ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the legal and judicial sectors.

The meeting with the Chinese delegation came as Pakistan and China continue to engage at the business and official levels, with the PMO highlighting digital economy cooperation, investment promotion and industrial collaboration as key areas discussed during Friday’s interaction.