LAHORE: A Chinese delegation, from City of Zibo, has expressed keen interest to have joint ventures in ceramics sector of Pakistan. The delegation visited Pakistan on the invitation of Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI), and held a meeting with local industrialists of ceramics sector. PCJCCI President S.M. Naveed delivered address of welcome to the delegation headed by Wang Chenzhong. Joint Chamber’s Senior Vice President Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Qureshi, Vice President Rana Mahmood Iqbal Khan, Secretary Salahuddin Hanif and a number of prominent businessmen and government officers also attended the meeting, according to PCJCCI spokesperson here Tuesday. On this occasion, Wang Chenzhong, who is also Head Exhibition Committee of Zibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Zibo, being a key transportation hub of China, was also playing an important role in the country’s economy through its rapidly growing manufacturing industries, especially in ceramics sector. He was impressed by the growth potential of ceramics industry of Pakistan. He agreed to relocate ceramic industries from Zibo into Pakistan for sharing the global demand of ceramics products by exploiting inherent advantages of Pakistan and China. He added that 70 percent work of Chinese ceramic industry was being done under the expertise of Zibo industries and the products produced in Zibo were being exported to US, EU and other sophisticated markets. Zibo was ranked as the 34th most competitive city in China according to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 2016,he said, adding that Zibo had a significantly large industry sector that accounted for 47% of the GDP in China. Earlier, S.M. Naveed apprised the Chinese delegation about the strong support to be extended by PCJCCI for economic development of the two countries. He said that the joint ventures of Pakistani and Chinese businessmen under CPEC had attained a highest level of mutual confidence that was giving birth to new venues of collaboration in trade and investment areas. He thanked the Chinese business community to pave way for modern phase of the industrialization in Pakistan and also creating a space for Pakistan in international markets through joint ventures. On the occasion, PCJCCI arranged a visit of the Chinese delegates to two housing societies to review the construction techniques being used in Pakistan and to suggest innovative Chinese techniques for the betterment of the local construction industry. Published in Daily Times, April 4th 2018.