LAHORE: A delegation from China, headed by Liu Jiang Michal, CEO ST Fulin Group Co Limited, and project head of Sino-Pak International Logistic Complex, China, on Tuesday visited Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to discuss business opportunities. The delegation met FPCCI Regional Standing Committee on Mines and Mineral Chairman Raja Hassan Akhtar and proposed backup solutions and the solar PV systems to run small and medium enterprises and industries in Pakistan. Akhtar said that China had been playing a significant role in economic development of Pakistan. “Lahore has a special significance being the hub of business activities in the Punjab. Both public and private sector organisations are striving hard to fully exploit the trade and investment potential of the Punjab in collaboration with the foreign investors,” he said. China would be their first choice for joint ventures and he hoped that cooperation between two countries would bring greater fortune for both. In the present economic scenario when Pakistan was facing energy crisis and needed foreign investment to get out of this situation, he said the need and importance of high-level meetings between the heads of states could not be underestimated. “China is an important trading partner of Pakistan. It is the second largest importing country after United Arab Emirates (UAE) and regarding top exporting countries of Pakistan, China comes at second place after the United States. Through developing private-to-private contacts, we can further strengthen our trade relations. The private sectors of both the countries need to interact on regular basis for exploring more avenues for trade expansion and opportunities for investments,” Akhtar said. FPCCI Regional Standing Committee on Cottage Industry Chairman Muhammad Yaseen highlighted various investment and joint ventures opportunities. He said that joint ventures with Chinese enterprises would facilitate vital transfer of technology as Pakistan was in need to upgrade value-addition process.