Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will meet in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss various issues of their common interest. "We are eagerly awaiting the visit and hope it would reinforce their abiding friendship," said a senior Chinese official while talking to newsmen here on Sunday. The official said, "China and Pakistan are traditional friendly neighbours. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both sides have always treated each other with mutual respect, trust and support and established an all-weather friendship and an all-round co-operative partnership."
"We are convinced Aziz's four-day state visit begins Tuesday will further deepen the friendship and promote their mutually beneficial co-operation in all fields," the official added.
The main focus of the talks will be on economy, since the leadership of the two countries wished to exploit their existing excellent diplomatic ties for the socio-economic wellbeing of their people.
The talks will follow signing of some agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in the economic sector. The two leaders are also likely to address a joint press conference.
A Pakistani official here said it would be a 'substantive' visit and some important agreements in the economic field would be signed. " Our bilateral partnership likely to get boost in the sectors like power generation, mineral development, communication and trade, they added."
The two countries are likely to drop duties on some items of bilateral interest within six months as an Early Harvest Programme (EHP). China has agreed to sign protocol during Aziz's visit to deepen the concessions on 186 items covered under the existing PTA and extend tariff concession to further 913 items.
The protocol to be signed between the two countries would also include initiatives to establish a joint study group (JSG) to develop a road map for bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), the sources said, adding both countries have exchanged the list of finalised name for the joint study group.