ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China highlighted on Wednesday the need for adopting uniform commercial codes to address customs barriers as well as tariff, information technology and freight issues in view of growing bilateral trade activities.

The desire for greater cooperation between the two nations was expressed at a meeting of Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali with a Chinese delegation at the former’s office in the Supreme Court building.

Ambassador Sun Weidong headed the eight-member Chinese delegation.

Talking to journalists after the meeting, Mr Ali called for homogenising trade-related laws of the two counties. “Disputes between commercial entities of the two countries are bound to crop up.

Instead of approaching the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) or the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC), a bilateral institution for arbitration should be developed,” he said, adding that Pakistan should keep the provinces on board on such matters.

Mr Ali also urged the Chinese side to understand Pakistan’s point of view on agreements that were reached while acquiring land and setting up industrial parks in the country.

The meeting participants also discussed the need for tackling organised crimes, mail frauds, cyber crimes, gunrunning, narcotics and prostitution.

Vice Minister Liu Zhenyu said visits of diplomats are frequent and strengthen bilateral ties. He said cooperation between the two countries has yielded positive results in science, commerce and diplomacy. Therefore, time is now ripe for extending mutual cooperation to the field of law, he said.

The delegation agreed to appoint focal persons in both Pakistan and China to foster greater coordination. The delegation welcomed Mr Ali’s suggestion about implementing exchange programmes for law students and members of the bar.

The two sides also agreed to expedite the ratification of mutual agreements and treaties that have been agreed upon.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2017