Pakistan Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan, currently on a visit to European Union countries, has met Dr. Martin Barbenstein, Austrian Minister for Economics and Labour at Vienna, an official statement said. A wide range of bilateral trade and economic matters were discussed with a consensus on enhancing the volume of trade between the two countries. There was a complete understanding of each other's positions on bilateral and multilateral trade issues, the statement said. The two sides discussed the issues including Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Agreement on Investment Protection, and agreed to finalize both the agreements for signing at the earliest. A detailed discussion took place on the next Ministerial Round of WTO negotiations to be held at Hong Kong. Dr. Barbenstein applauded the moderating and constructive role played by Pakistan in the WTO negotiations. He said Pakistan's role in furthering Doha Development Agenda and bridging the differences amongst the WTO members states was worth appreciating. He lauded Pakistan's pivotal role in the international coalition against terrorism and promoting world peace. The Pakistani minister raised the issue of market access for Pakistan in European Union and said that any restriction on market access would jeopardize Pakistan's efforts to transform its society into an enlightened moderate Islamic State. Khan said while the whole world recognized Pakistan's key role in the global war against terrorism, it is necessary that Pakistan's development needs be catered by giving it market access in the European Union. --SP 1245 Local Time 0945 GMT
