Pakistan and China's Xinjiang province have identified joint ventures in agriculture, textiles, food processing, livestock and manufacturing, after a meeting between a visiting Chinese delegation and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) reported on 5 November 2026.

Both sides stressed stronger business-to-business engagement, technology transfer and investment, and agreed that government-level agreements would only reach their full potential if entrepreneurs turned them into practical commercial projects.

Four priority areas for cooperation

Ha Zengyou, who led the Chinese delegation, set out a four-pronged framework for cooperation: agriculture and food processing, textiles, new trade channels, and connectivity and infrastructure.

He said the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) and Lahore had complementary industrial strengths and supply chains. Pakistan, he said, had strong potential in fruits, vegetables, seafood, berries and nuts, while the XPCC could contribute expertise in modern cultivation, livestock management, food processing and cold-chain facilities.

He also pointed to Pakistan's cotton spinning and weaving capabilities alongside Xinjiang's integrated textile industry, and proposed closer industrial links between businesses in the two regions. The XPCC would also help Pakistani companies understand Chinese policies, customs requirements and taxation procedures.

LCCI sets out its priorities

LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar said the longstanding Pakistan-China friendship needed to be translated into stronger investment and business partnerships. He identified water-efficient farming, improved cotton productivity, food processing, packaging, cold-chain infrastructure and halal meat production as promising areas for joint ventures.

He invited Chinese investors to explore Punjab's industrial estates and the Special Economic Zones developed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, highlighting the province's skilled workforce and access to major markets.

LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani proposed establishing a Chinatown in Lahore, with security arrangements and essential facilities, to provide a dedicated community environment for Chinese professionals, investors and businesses.

Cotton decline raised at the meeting

Former LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik urged Pakistan to benefit from Xinjiang's experience in cotton cultivation, seed development and irrigation. He said Pakistan's cotton production had fallen from a historical level of around 15 million bales to between five and six million bales, increasing the country's reliance on imports from the United States and Brazil.

The meeting also discussed cooperation in cross-border e-commerce, tourism and regional connectivity, alongside technology transfer.

Ethiopia invites Pakistani investors

Separately, Ethiopia's Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Oumer Hussien Oba, invited the Pakistani business community to explore trade and investment opportunities in Ethiopia, describing the country as a strategic gateway to African markets.

Speaking at the LCCI, he highlighted Ethiopia's competitive energy costs, industrial infrastructure, investment incentives and expanding economy. With a population of more than 130 million, he said, Ethiopia offered opportunities for Pakistani investors in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles and other industrial sectors.

He added that Ethiopia was opening more sectors to international investment and assured businesses that efforts were under way to address regulatory challenges faced by Pakistani pharmaceutical companies.