Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
The Upper House of parliament on Tuesday was informed that Pakistan continue to broaden economic cooperation through increasing investments from China, enhancing cooperation in the agriculture sector and expanding market access for Pakistani exports.
China is time tested friend of Pakistan and always support Pakistan at all international forum, said minister of state for foreign affairs Hina Rabbani Khar while answering of various questions.
She said apart from political, economic and strategic relations, Pakistan and China also enjoy close cooperation in the health sector.
She said Pakistan and China extended support to fight COVID-19 pandemic through provision of medical relief goods and strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to fight COVID-19. She said we also enjoy close collaboration in the defense and security domain and frequent meetings at the highest level.
The State Minister also claimed that Pakistan and China enjoy excellent broad-based and long-term relationship characterized by feelings of mutual trust, respect and goodwill towards each other.
As close friends and partners, both countries have multi-faceted bilateral cooperation in diverse fields such as in economic, political, defence and cultural areas.
Pakistan’s foreign policy towards China has been gaining momentum through sustained engagements between the leadership, extension of diplomatic support at multilateral fora and careful nurturing of all facets of bilateral relations. There has been exchange of high-level visits despite constraints posed by COVID-19 pandemic.
In economic arena, China remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner. In January 2020, Phase-II of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) was operationalized which liberalized trade and enhanced trade volume between the two countries.
China also remains Pakistan’s largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Bilateral trade in 2021 stood at US$ 27.8 billion.
We also enjoy close collaboration in defense and security domain and frequent meetings at the highest level. Comprehensive public diplomacy strategy includes promotion of cultural exchange, people-to-people relations, tourism programs and multitude of other outreach initiatives, she maintained.
