HONG KONG — Pakistan is eager to tap the yuan bond market and will encourage corporate stock listings in Hong Kong, its finance minister said in an exclusive interview, as the South Asian country aims to bolster and broaden its ties with China.

Muhammad Aurangzeb said that an initial issuance of a panda bond — a yuan-denominated debt instrument from a non-Chinese entity issued in mainland China — should take place by the end of this year. The move is expected to be worth around $200 million to $250 million, but “it’s not a question of amount,” the minister said on the sidelines of the annual Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong.