HBL CEO highlights financial connectivity at China-Pakistan seminar

The China-Pakistan Financial Seminar was held Monday in Beijing. The event, which also marked the fifth anniversary of Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Beijing branch, brought together financial executives and business representatives from China and Pakistan to explore ways to deepen bilateral financial and economic ties.

As one of only three banks from South Asia and the Middle East and North Africa region offering end-to-end RMB intermediation in China, HBL has positioned its Beijing branch as a key platform for advancing two-way financial connectivity between the two countries.

Speaking to China.org.cn on the sidelines of the event, Muhammad Nassir Salim, president and CEO of HBL, said the branch’s next phase of development will focus on expanding cross-border renminbi settlement services, supporting Chinese companies investing in Pakistan and facilitating trade and investment between businesses in both countries.

He also encouraged more Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan’s agricultural sector, describing agricultural modernization as a key pillar of the country’s sustainable development.

As a long-standing financial partner of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, HBL has provided integrated financial solutions, including project financing and advisory services, for projects spanning energy, infrastructure and industrial parks.

“We have worked with major Chinese policy and commercial banks to develop sustainable financing solutions for CPEC projects,” Salim said.

Addressing the seminar, Aizaz Khan, deputy head of mission at the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing, underscored the importance of efficient financial infrastructure in supporting bilateral economic cooperation.

“Without efficient settlement mechanisms, investment is slow,” he said.

He added that closer cooperation between financial institutions in the two countries would help foster a more open, secure and standardized cross-border financial ecosystem, providing stronger support for long-term, stable bilateral cooperation.

During the seminar, HBL signed a memorandum of cooperation with China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. and a letter of intent with China CITIC Bank, marking another step toward closer China-Pakistan financial collaboration.

Two roundtable discussions were also held on investment opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative and the internationalization of the renminbi.