China to help Pakistan enhance steel production

China to help Pakistan enhance steel production. Pakistan-China cooperation in the area of expansion of steel production is part of the 5-year Development programme, said Ambassador of Pakistan to China Masood Khan. In an interview to APP ahead of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao 3-day official visit to Pakistan starting from Friday, the Islamabad envoy to Beijing said specifics have to be discussed by the two sides. “We would look at the entire steel production picture,” Khan said when asked to comment on media reports about expansion of Pakistan Steel Mills. Khan suggested Pakistan enhance exports to China as “there is a need for visit of more buying missions from China to Pakistan; a greater number of Pakistani traders participation in trade fairs/exhibitions in China; trade seminars in Pakistan and China; visa facilitation; establishment of an Electronic Database Interchange for clearance of FTA goods; and establishment of cross-border supply chains.” He however said the second session of Pakistan-China Free Trade Commission held in Beijing last month has taken decisions to address this aspect comprehensively. More than a dozen MoUs/ Agreements and over 20 business-to-business MoUs/ Agreements are likely to be signed during Premier Wen visit to China, Khan said. The agreements, he pointed out will assist us with the flood reconstruction as well as launching of a new Pakistan-China energy cooperation mechanism so that we can look holistically at the energy requirements of Pakistan in short and long term periods.