BEIJING – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif called for new era in Pakistan-China relations, placing technology, AI, investment and innovation at the heart of the province’s future partnership with China.
Addressing International Big Data Expo in Beijing, CM Maryam Nawaz presented Punjab as a vast emerging market and investment destination, urging Chinese companies to seize opportunities in one of Pakistan’s most economically significant provinces.
For me, I'm personally an ardent follower of President Xi's philosophy of common prosperity, of soft power in particular, of shared human goals, of security, of stability, and sovereignty of all nations.
So, this is for me as a person, as a person, as the first woman Chief… pic.twitter.com/MUawK6HmEO
— PMLN (@pmln_org) August 29, 2026
CM said Pakistan’s decades-old relationship with China reached stage where traditional friendship could be transformed into deeper economic and technological cooperation. Calling China a “trusted friend” and “reliable brother,” she said the next phase of bilateral ties should be driven by investment, technology, industrialisation, innovation, culture and shared human goals.
She also expressed admiration for President Xi Jinping’s vision, particularly his emphasis on common prosperity, soft power, security, stability and respect for national sovereignty.
Making a strong case for Punjab, Maryam Nawaz highlighted its population of approximately 130 million people, making it Pakistan’s largest province by population. She described Punjab as the country’s food basket, economic cornerstone and economic pivot, stressing that its importance extends well beyond its geographical boundaries.
She noted that Punjab’s population continues to expand as people from across Pakistan move to the province in search of better economic and social opportunities.
CM contrasted Punjab’s population with China’s Guizhou province, which has around 38.6 million residents, saying both regions nevertheless share characteristics including large populations, abundant human resources and increasing urbanisation.
Maryam Nawaz made clear that technology would be central to Punjab’s development strategy. She said the provincial government was accelerating its digital transformation and working to establish Punjab as a centre for modern technology and the digital economy.
Artificial intelligence and big data, she said, would increasingly determine the direction of economies and public services around the world. Punjab already begun incorporating AI into several sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture and public administration, according to the chief minister.
The region is also investing in technological education and skills development for young people, with the aim of preparing them for a labour market increasingly shaped by automation, digital platforms and emerging technologies.
Maryam Nawaz singled out Guizhou for its technological progress, saying China’s transformation in the digital sector offered important lessons for Pakistan. She expressed interest in expanding cooperation between Punjab and Guizhou, particularly in digital technology and innovation.
Maryam Nawaz urged Chinese businesses and investors to become partners in Punjab’s ongoing economic transformation, particularly as the province seeks to modernise agriculture and expand its technology-driven economy.
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