Pakistan, China to deepen cooperation.

ISLAMABAD -- Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar's visit to Beijing can reenergise bilateral economic relations, as China has shown interest in signing agreements for deepening cooperation in mineral sector development, green economy and research on major issues for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The areas that Beijing has highlighted for future cooperation will shift Pakistan's usual emphasis on the traditional energy and brick-and-mortar projects.

The two-day visit of PM Kakar, which began on Monday, can prove pivotal in taking advantage of the world's second-largest economy, including benefiting from its research.

Sources told The Express Tribune that Beijing shared its list of priorities with Islamabad before the visit of premier Kakar.

If agreed upon and implemented, these areas of cooperation could integrate the country with the BRI, said government sources. They said that the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) proposed to sign one agreement and seven memoranda of understanding (MoUs) during the PM's visit.

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The premier is accompanied by a high-level delegation including members of the cabinet and senior government officials.

Privatisation Minister and former focal person on CPEC Fawad Hasan Fawad said last week that Islamabad had failed to take even 20% benefit from the BRI and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The 11th meeting of the CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee had also proved disappointing for Pakistan, as Beijing did not accept many demands for further investment.

The list of the agreement and MoUs suggests that China wants to focus on high-return areas, particularly the ones that are more relevant to the modern era.

China conveyed its willingness to sign the agreements during the PM's visit, said the sources. It has proposed to sign an agreement on mineral sector development and industrial cooperation under CPEC. It is also keen on signing the Research of the Routes for Industrial Cooperation under CPEC.

There is another proposal for finalising the work plan on the China-Pakistan expert exchange mechanism. China has also proposed to sign an MoU on the expert communication mechanism for Gwadar Port development.

The port still remains underdeveloped and lacks basic facilities despite being a high priority for Beijing.

Sources said that China showed its willingness to sign an MoU for deepening research on major issues of Belt...