KUNMING, Dec 23: Major business promotion institutions from China have signed agreement with Pakistan and other south Asian countries here, vowing to strengthen trade cooperation at bilateral and regional levels.

The agreement on Wednesday, first of its kind, was reached by the China Council for the promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARCCCI) at the China-South Asia Business Forum in south west China's Yunnan Province.

According to the agreement, commercial and industrial communications between China and its south Asian neighbours will be further promoted and a regular exchange and communication platform will be established.

Pakistan was represented at the Forum by the Chairman Export Promotion Bureau Tariq Ikram, who assured his country support to meet the future economic challenges and development of mutually beneficial cooperation for a 'Win-Win' situation.

In South Asia, he said the great challenge is economic development to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and disease. "We should fulfil our responsibility to channel the available energies and resources for the betterment of our peoples," he asserted.

Pakistan's policies accord highest priority to economic development. With sustained efforts and sound management, we have succeeded in achieving a major and sustainable turn around in the last five years, he added. -APP