HAFEEZ FOR PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CONTACT BETWEEN CHINA-PAKISTAN FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA

Islamabad, February 24, 2005

Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment has stressed upon the need for people to people contact between China and Pakistan for the promotion of economic cooperation in the South Asia region. He was addressing as chief guest in the concluding session of the conference on 'Evolving Political and Economic Scenario in South Asia: Role of China and Pakistan held jointly by Institute of South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, Chengdu-China and Institute of Policy Studies here today.

The Minister said that we should develop infrastructure for understanding each other to meet the challenges of global trade as the world focus was shifting swiftly towards the global economy through regional cooperation. Private sector has tremendous potential to play its vital role to promote trade and economic relations, he said.

The speakers expressed that there was a need to further strengthen the economic and trade relations between both the neighboring and friendly countries, which were gaining momentum after the signing of P T A last year. Regional economic blocs were a must for regional economic development for mutual benefits, they opined.

Senator Prof. Khurshid Ahmed and the representatives of Pakistani and Chinese groups took part in the discussions, which was followed by open house Q & A session.