Hanoi: In a significant step toward strengthening economic ties, Pakistan and Vietnam held the 5th session of their Joint Trade Committee (JTC) in Hanoi today, marking the revival of the institutional mechanism after an eight-year hiatus. The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to deepening bilateral trade and a key announcement to initiate negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) by 2025.
The session was co-chaired by Mr. Nasir Hamid, Additional Secretary of Commerce from Pakistan, and H.E. Ms. Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam. The Agreed Minutes of the meeting were formally signed in the presence of H.E. Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce, and H.E. Mr. Nguyen Hong Dien, Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade.
During the meeting, both delegations reviewed the current state of bilateral trade and discussed future cooperation in a wide array of sectors, including trade facilitation, market access, textiles, fisheries, Halal certification, civil aviation, healthcare, and banking channels.
A key outcome of the dialogue was the mutual agreement to begin negotiations for a PTA within 2025, aimed at enhancing trade volumes and diversifying commercial exchanges. The two sides also stressed the importance of reinforcing institutional frameworks and expanding business-to-business engagement to sustain trade momentum.
The session concluded with both countries reaffirming their resolve to unlock the untapped trade potential. The 6th JTC meeting is scheduled to take place in Pakistan at a mutually agreed time.
