Trade with China to touch $15 billion: Pak

Pakistan says it hopes to increase bilateral trade with China from the present $4.75 billion to $15 billion.

Pakistan on Thursday said it hoped to increase bilateral trade with China from the present 4.75 billion dollars to 15 billion dollars following the recent visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

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The Chinese President's visit to Pakistan opened many avenues of cooperation in the field of trade, energy and defence, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durani said.

Asked whether any understanding has been reached during Hu's visit to work out a bilateral deal on the lines of US-India nuclear deal on civilian energy, he said "all issues are going side by side and Pakistan is currently focussing on the trade balance issue."

He said the cabinet appreciated the signing of the free trade agreement with China, which would increase annual Sino-Pakistan trade to 15 billion dollars.