Trade agreements expected during Chinese PM’s visit

Pakistan seeks greater access to Chinese markets.

ISLAMABAD: Several bilateral trade and investment agreements are expected to be signed between Pakistan and China when Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visits the country on December 18.

The agreements include technical expertise for the export industry, free stalls for Pakistani products at Chinese fairs and sending delegations of Chinese buyers to Pakistan for improving exports.

Sources said that a Pakistani technical mission has returned from China after meeting officials. Three out of four points of discussion were agreed upon by the two parties but Pakistan’s proposal of lower Chinese tariffs on 268 Pakistani goods, including textile, seafood and processed food, was met with silence.

It is expected, however, that this matter will be discussed during Jiabao’s visit to the country and a memorandum of understanding is likely to be signed.

According to sources, the Pakistani delegation requested its Chinese counterpart to allow greater access to exports by lowering tariffs. The delegation made this request to make the terms of trade between the two countries more equitable.

However, the Chinese PM may make an announcement on this final point of contention regarding the free trade agreement between the two countries but Chinese officials stay silent on the matter meanwhile.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2010.