ISLAMABAD, July 18 (Xinhua) -- A two-day Pakistan-China healthcare investment conference opened Friday, bringing together leading Pakistani pharmaceutical, health care and biotechnology companies with Chinese investors, manufacturers, technology providers and industry leaders.
Addressing the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference on the pharmaceutical, healthcare and biotechnology sectors here, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the event will provide a significant platform for strengthening collaboration between the pharmaceutical industries of Pakistan and China.
The B2B agreements signed between Pakistani and Chinese companies during the event mark another important step in advancing cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0, according to him.
He said it would encourage private-sector partnerships in the co-production of medicines, vaccines, and other life-saving healthcare products while opening new avenues for investment and industrial cooperation.
Sharif noted that Pakistan's pharmaceutical sector offers immense potential for growth and investment, adding that the collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese investors in pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccine production, biotechnology, and research and development would strengthen the country's healthcare industry, enhance local production capacity, and contribute to economic development.
He expressed confidence that deeper cooperation in the sector would further expand bilateral economic ties and support the high-quality development of CPEC 2.0.
Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan said the event would play a key role in promoting industrial cooperation, attracting foreign direct investment, and facilitating technology transfer.
He said the conference brought together leading Chinese companies represented by a large number of delegates, along with more than 200 Pakistani companies, making it one of the largest business gatherings between the two countries in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and biotechnology sectors.
Khan said the conference aims to accelerate industrial development, increase foreign investment, promote local manufacturing, generate employment opportunities, and modernize Pakistan's healthcare industry.
He added that discussions focused on six priority areas, including active pharmaceutical ingredients, biotechnology and vaccines, medical devices, generic medicines and injectables, clinical trials and research, as well as herbal medicines and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Highlighting Pakistan's dependence on imported pharmaceutical inputs, Khan said the country currently imports around 90 percent of the raw materials required by its pharmaceutical industry.
He said Chinese investment, advanced technology, and expertise could significantly strengthen domestic manufacturing, reduce reliance on imports, improve supply chain resilience, and boost exports.
Addressing the gathering, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China's commitment to strengthening economic and industrial cooperation with Pakistan. He said the Chinese embassy would continue to facilitate closer engagement between enterprises of the two countries and provide support to expand bilateral investment and business cooperation.
Jiang also expressed hope that Pakistan would continue to provide a stable security environment and favorable business conditions for Chinese enterprises operating in the country.
Noting that China's vast market presents new opportunities for Pakistan, Jiang said enhanced business cooperation would deliver mutual benefits while strengthening the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
The conference, which runs from Friday to Saturday, features B2B matchmaking sessions and one-on-one meetings between companies from both countries to form joint ventures, technology partnerships, and long-term industrial collaboration. ■
