China, Pakistan close to free trade pact-Xinhua

BEIJING, Nov 13 (Reuters) China and Pakistan have all but wrapped up a free trade agreement ahead of a state visit to Islamabad later this month by President Hu Jintao, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

Xinhua quoted sources with China's Ministry of Commerce as saying negotiators cleared the last major hurdle, on market access, during a fifth round of talks in Beijing on Friday.

The talks began after a visit to Pakistan in April 2005 by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

Two-way trade increased 39 percent last year to .26 billion.

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