| Pakistan and China to increase border trade |
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| Friday,July 03,2009 Posted: 12:42 BJT(0442 GMT) |
| From:Business Recorder Article type:Reproduced |
BEIJING (July 03 2009): Pakistan and China would intensify their efforts to increase bilateral trade through land route, Ambassador Masood Khan said on Thursday. Ambassador Khan who led a delegation to the fifth Central and South Asian Commodity Fair organised 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 per cent 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.
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Bilateral Visits
