On April 2, the 10th meeting of the 2nd phrase of China-Pakistan FTA was held in Islamabad. The Chinese delegation was led by the Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative Wang Shouwen. Attending were the State Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the General Administration of Customs, the Pakistan Delegation, the Secretary Commerce Mohammad Younus Dagha, the Pakistan Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Tariff Committee. The two parties had in-depth consultation on tariff concession of trade in goods and Customs data exchange, and gained positive progress. During the meeting, vice minister Wang Shouwen met with the Pakistan Minister of Commerce Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, and exchanged views on China-Pakistan bilateral economic and trade relation and the second phase of China-Pakistan FTA negotiation.

Pakistan is an important country along the Belt and Road route and China’s major trade and economic partner in South Asia. China-Pakistan FTA was signed in 2006, coming into effect in 2007. The bilateral trade value has soared to US$20.09 billion in 2017 from US$5.25 billion in 2006. To further improve trade liberalization and facilitation, the two sides launched the 2nd phrase of negotiation in 2011.