BEIJING (APP) - Pakistan and China would intensify their efforts to increase bilateral trade through land route,
Ambassador Masood Khan said Thursday.
Ambassador Khan who led a delegation to the 5th Central and South Asian Commodity Fair organized by
Kashgar prefecture told APP after three day visit to Kashgar.
He said that two more delegations from Pakistan participated in the fair. Syed Ahmed Hussain Shah, NWFP
Industries Minister, and Babar Yaqoub Fateh Muhammad, Chief Secretary Northern Areas, led these
delegations in the trade fair which was largely attended by diplomats and delegations of several Central Asian
and South Asian countries.
Besides, official delegations, hundreds of Pakistani businessmen participated in the seminar. There were about
more than 80 Pakistani exhibitors who established their stalls in the international fair.
During his visit, Ambassador Masood Khan said he held in-depth talks with Commissioner of Kashgar Akbar
Gopur to explore ways and means to strengthen economic and trade ties between Xinjiang and Northern Areas
of Pakistan.
“Border trade right now constitutes merely 5% of the overall trade.
Both sides are keen to enhance overall trade and increase the volume of bilateral trade which has immense
potential”, Ambassador Khan observed.
The border trade takes place through Karakoram Highway (KKH) also known as Pakistan-China friendship
highway. Extensive work is being done to repair and upgrade the KKH of the Pakistani side. The repair and
upgradation is likely to be completed by 2011-2012, Khan said. “With upgradation of KKH, the volume of trade
would increase, the speed of transportation would pick up”, the Pakistani Ambassador said.
Ambassador Masood Khan visited Pakistani stalls, mingled with Pakistani businessmen and talked about trade
potential between Pakistan and China and how it can further be enhanced.
He also visited Pakistan trade house in Kashgar and addressed a large gathering of Pakistanis. The gathering
was hosted by Zahid Traders, a leading Pakistani enterprise doing business in Pakistan, Xinjiang, and Central
Asia. Kashgar Government also organized a culture evening during which a popular Xinjiang Singer Muhammad
Amin sang Pakistan’s national song “Ye mera Pakistan he; ye tera Pakistan he”, this made all Pakistanis proud
and several of them rushed to the stage to sing and dance with Chinese singer.