Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says Prime Minister's recent visit to China will help move existing Pak-China strategic relations towards an economic partnership through enhanced economic footprints on bilateral basis.
He said this while addressing a press conference along with Finance Minister Asad Umar in Islamabad.
The foreign minister said besides signing 15 bilateral agreements and memoranda, leadership level discussions on bilateral ties, regional and international matters of mutual interest, remained very productive.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi further said the two sides also decided to complete bilateral negotiations on second phase of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by April next year.
Qureshi also pointed out that in order to minimize use of US dollar, a scheme is also being considered to prefer use of local currency in bilateral trade between Pakistan and China.
He added that one such meeting was held in Beijing with another meeting to be held on Friday to finalize modalities in this context.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua is in China to lead the Pakistani delegation at the deliberations.
Finance Minister Asad Umar, on the occasion said China has agreed in principle to extend an economic relief package to Pakistan.
He said Secretary Finance and the Governor State Bank of Pakistan will have meeting with the Chinese officials on Friday to discuss the modalities of the package.
