Islamabad– The Pak-China Mineral Cooperation Forum concluded with remarkable success on January 28, 2026, at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad. Organized by the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan (CCCPK), the high-profile event aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the minerals and mining sector by harnessing mutual capabilities, expertise, technology, and investment opportunities.
Exploring Opportunities at the Pak-China Mineral Cooperation Forum
The forum drew impressive participation, including representatives from 71 Chinese companies, 133 Pakistani companies, and over 850 delegates in total. It served as a premier platform for policy dialogue, investment facilitation, technological exchange, business matchmaking, and collaboration across the entire mineral value chain—from exploration and extraction to processing, logistics, financing, value addition, and sustainable development.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, attending as chief guest, lauded the enduring Pakistan-China diplomatic relations—celebrating their 75th anniversary—as a model of trust, continuity, and strategic depth. He emphasized China’s pivotal role as a strategic partner in unlocking Pakistan’s estimated $8 trillion mineral potential, shifting focus from raw exports to downstream processing, industrial clusters, and export-led growth under CPEC Phase-2. He highlighted that targeted value addition could elevate Pakistan’s mineral exports to $6-8 billion annually in the coming decade.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China’s strong interest in Pakistan’s mining sector, pledging support through investments, advanced technology, sustainable practices, capacity building, and benefits for local communities—building on successful collaborations like the Saindak project.
Wang Huihua, Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan (CCCPK), described the minerals sector as an emerging new pillar of Pak-China economic cooperation. He reiterated CCCPK’s dedication to fostering long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships through enhanced dialogue, responsible investments, and stronger business linkages.
Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik underscored Pakistan’s commitment to adopting global best practices in sustainable mining amid surging international demand for critical minerals. He noted that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is prioritizing the sector, providing streamlined facilitation, policy stability, and improved coordination to accelerate development.
A key highlight was the official launch of the Pak-China E-Mining Platform—a groundbreaking digital initiative designed to enhance information sharing, project connectivity, transparency, efficiency, and real-time collaboration between Pakistani authorities and Chinese enterprises.
Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the forum, covering areas such as digital cross-border industrial trade, technology cooperation, and investment frameworks.
The government extended a formal invitation to Chinese companies to participate actively in the upcoming Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF) 2026, set for April 8-9, 2026, at the Jinnah Convention Centre—potentially featuring dedicated Chinese pavilions to showcase mining technologies, equipment, and expertise. Officials expressed optimism about attracting substantial Chinese investments (with projections up to $10 billion or more) and significantly scaling mineral-related exports in the years ahead.
This landmark forum positions the minerals and mining sector as a strategic driver in the evolving Pakistan-China bilateral relationship, aligning with global demand for critical minerals while promoting sustainable, value-added, and inclusive development.
