Pakistan, China sign MoUs worth $100m

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China here on Tuesday signed eight Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) worth $ 100 million for mutual investment in seafood, agriculture, steel and pharmaceutical sectors.

Around 14 private companies from both sides signed MoUs for mutual investment and joint ventures to expedite the trade and business between the two countries. The signing ceremony of Pak-China Trade Cooperation Projects was organized by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Ministry of Commerce China.

Addressing on the occasion, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of China Embassy, Wang Zhihua said that Chinese Embassy welcome the mutual investment and joint ventures between the private investor companies of both side encourage private sectors to go for more investment in both countries.

He said Pakistan is friend country and we believe on peaceful con-existence and cooperation for shared property, adding that since the diplomatic relations start between Pakistan and China, the cooperation between both sides has increases in defence, technology, agriculture, leather and chemicals.

In recent years, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under 'One belt one road' has given new height to mutual relations and cooperation between both friend countries.

He said that the leadership of both side give prime importance to economic and trade relation which need to be increased. He said that China is working on around forty projects in different sectors including infrastructure, energy and transport where huge employment opportunity is available for local people in Pakistan.

Wang Zhihua informed that trade between China and Pakistan has been increased from last five consecutive years besides increase in bilateral cooperation in Agriculture, mineral, chemical and steel.

He said that Pakistan and China are negotiating on phase -II of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to increase trade and providing free trade opportunity their markets. He said that Pakistan have huge potential market for international investors and its strategic location gives more comparative advantages to other trading partners.

Addressing on the occasion, Additional Secretary ministry of Commerce and Textile, Syed Tariq Huda said that Chinese investment in Pakistan give positive impact to local market of Pakistan. He said that 'One Belt and One Road' initiative also gives vision for inclusions and welfare all region. "We have $ 60 billion Chinese investment in CPEC which includes development projects in Gwadar and also discussing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for increasing trade and economic relations between China and Pakistan.

On the occasion, Director General, Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce China, Mr. Liu Changyu welcomed the MoU signed by the private sectors of both side and said that both of the countries have need to further increase in mutual trade for exploiting the economic and trade potential of two sides.—APP