China is moving to strengthen its grip on Pakistan’s mineral sector through long term procurement agreements and strategic investment partnerships, signaling a major expansion in economic cooperation between the two countries.

The development emerged during Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan’s official visit to China, where he held high level meetings with leading Chinese firms interested in Pakistan’s untapped mineral resources and export potential.

A key meeting with Shanghai Zhongken Xinshen Technology focused on mining exploration, sector financing, and the adoption of international operational standards aimed at modernizing Pakistan’s mineral industry. Discussions also explored integrated cooperation models to unlock sustainable value chains and increase foreign investment in the sector.

In another significant engagement, Nanjing Jinshan Chemical Technology expressed strong interest in long term procurement of Pakistani copper, iron ore, and lead zinc. Both sides discussed expanding mineral exports to China through structured commercial arrangements that could provide Pakistan with stable export demand and fresh foreign exchange inflows.

Officials said the talks reflect China’s growing confidence in Pakistan’s mining potential as Islamabad pushes to diversify exports and attract investment into productive sectors. Pakistan is home to vast untapped reserves of copper, gold, coal, and rare minerals, many of which remain underdeveloped despite rising global demand.

The latest engagements are being viewed as a major step toward deeper Pakistan China industrial cooperation, with mineral exports emerging as a key pillar of future bilateral trade growth.