Pakistani Consul General in Shanghai, Shehzad Ahmad Khan, has extended a formal invitation to Chinese enterprises to focus on five priority areas — agriculture, textiles, renewable energy, communication technology and consumer goods manufacturing — as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) enters its 2.0 phase.

Addressing a forum in Suzhou on April 8, the Consul General highlighted the vital role played by Chinese businesses in Pakistan's economic transformation and long-term development, according to a Gwadar Pro's report on Friday.

He made these remarks at the “Asia Investment and Development Cooperation Forum”, held on the sidelines of the CLNB 2026 11th New Energy Industry Expo at the Suzhou International Expo Centre.

The forum brought together consuls general from five countries — Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Mongolia — for in-depth discussions on regional economic cooperation, investment opportunities and multilateral industrial collaboration.

As the global industrial chain undergoes a fundamental realignment and regional economic cooperation deepens, Asia is cementing its position as the world's most dynamic growth pole.

The forum underscored Asia’s rising centrality in global investment flows and marked a practical roadmap for deepening cross-border industrial partnerships, with Pakistan positioning itself as a frontline destination for Chinese investment under the CPEC 2.0 framework.

Highlighting Pakistan’s vast potential, Consul General Shehzad pointed out that of the country’s 260 million population, 64 percent were under the age of 30-representing both a vast consumer market and a rich talent pool. He also detailed Pakistan's investor friendly policies.

The Consul General provided a systematic update on CPEC, noting that Phase 1 has already completed over $46 billion worth of projects, added more than 8,000 megawatts of power generation capacity, and directly created approximately 200,000 jobs — effectively resolving Pakistan’s chronic energy shortages and transportation bottlenecks.

The strategic focus of CPEC 2.0 has shifted to industrialization, agricultural modernization, information technology, technological innovation and improving people’s livelihoods.

On the occasion, Jocke Zhu, President of the Foreign Investment Working Committee of the China-Asia Economic Development Association (CAEDA), announced next steps at the forum.

A dedicated event in Hangzhou in May will focus on Pakistan-China ICT investments, including fintech, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Throughout the year, CAEDA will also organize delegation tours to these five Asian countries, accompanied by full service support including policy training and legal compliance assistance.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China