Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar met his Chinese counterpart Bo Xilai here and decided to take identical position on issues relating to World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"We are agreed to make joint efforts to develop consensus on the core issues to be discussed at WTO ministerial meeting scheduled in Hong Kong from December 13, Humayun said in an interview here on Saturday.
He said they were committed to protect the interests of the developing countries and ensure access of their products in the international market.
The talks that covered wide-ranging matters of bilateral interests were attended by other officials including Pakistan's Ambassador Salman Bashir, Joint Secretary Ministry of Commerce Shahid Bashir and Commercial Counsellor Shahid Mahmood.
Humayun termed his talks with his Chinese counterpart as highly productive for giving boost to their comprehensive economic partnership.
They agreed to initiate a joint feasibility study on further strengthening their economic ties, both at the macro and the micro levels, he said, adding that the terms of reference for the study would be finalised soon.
He said there was strong political desire on both sides to open new avenues of co-operation at bilateral and regional levels to improve socio-economic life of their peoples.
Humayun said the implementation of 'Early Harvest' programme from January would be a major step forward to attract the businessmen play their role in bringing the bilateral trade volume in conformity with the outstanding diplomatic ties. He noted that the two sides completed EHP in a short span of time and made considerable progress towards free trade arrangement.
"Our negotiations on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have been marked by sentiments of respect, reciprocity and a profound desire to further deepen and broaden our trade relations," he remarked.
These negotiations will be completed by the end of next year. He expressed confidence that with the operationalisation of EHP, the bilateral trade would receive a quantitative jump. China will give zero-tariff treatment to 769 categories of goods imported from Pakistan, mainly involving vegetables, fruits, stone materials, cotton fabrics and man-made fabrics.
The economic initiatives taken during the last two to three years proved very effective and there was about 40 percent increase in overall volume of trade, whereas Pakistan's exports to China also showed an upward trend.
Humayun said: "We are looking forward to see maximum Chinese investment in the country and would encourage Chinese manufacturing units to relocate and shift operation to Pakistan."
The Commerce Minister said that Pakistan "is deeply interested" in promoting regional economic co-operation. "We have reached out to East Asia and are in the process of concluding FTAs and comprehensive economic partnerships with Asean members. We wish to develop interaction with Central Asian States through Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO)," he added.
About Sino-Pak friendship, he said their all-weather time-tested friendship would remain evergreen. "Our strategic partnership and multilateral co-operative relationship will continue to receive strength in the years to come. This beneficial friendship is in the fundamental interests of our people and is indispensable for promoting regional peace and prosperity," he added.
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