ISLAMABAD: While skipping three mini-ministerial meetings in the last one year, the government has finally sent Commerce Adviser Razak Dawood to attend the informal World Trade Organisation mini-ministerial meeting in Shanghai.

The meeting is to kick off on Tuesday along the sidelines of a week-long second China International Import Expo will be attended by the representatives of at least 35 countries.

The mini-ministerial meeting served dual purpose, where commerce ministers can take up bilateral issues with their counterparts.

WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo will also attend the ministerial luncheon on investment facilitation for development.

An official source in the commerce ministry told Dawn that Dawood has only one scheduled meeting with his Chinese counterpart.

The Chinese commerce minister had sent a letter to Dawood on Sept 10 to attend the informal WTO ministerial meeting. The rules-based multilateral trading system has been playing an important role in promoting global trade and economic growth.

Currently, this system is encountering difficulties and the WTO is facing crisis, the letter said. Against this backdrop, it is essential that WTO members strengthen cooperation and work together with a view to helping the WTO better tackle challenges and continue to play its crucial role in global economic governance.

The mini-ministerial agenda includes exchange of views on expectations for 20th WTO ministerial conference and how to achieve the desired outcomes and second how to advance necessary reform of the body.

The only official details about the meeting came from government-owned Radio Pakistan which mentioned that over 35 local companies will showcase their products at the week-long second China International Import Expo.

The export-oriented Pakistani companies will display textile, leather and sports goods, surgical equipments, home furnishing and other products to explore Chinese markets.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2019