imageISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Parliamentary delegation led by Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Economic Affairs and Privatization, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan arrived here on Saturday after a 10-day official visit to China.

The delegation comprising members of the National Assembly, think tank and media was invited for the visit by the Chinese government to further enhance friendly relations and economic cooperation between Pakistan and China.

During the visit, the delegation visited Kashgar Special Economic Zone and hold meeting with Chinese Communist Party (CPC) leaders and senior government officials in Kashgar, Urumqi, Beijing and Shanghai.

In Beijing, the delegation held separate meetings with Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of China, Liu Jianchao, leader of Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and attended the seminar on Afghanistan Situation and Sino-Pak cooperation for counter-terrorism.

In Shanghai, the delegation visit the Pudong Economic Zone, Free Trade Zone and Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Talking to APP after the visit, leader of the delegation, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan said, during its stay, the delegation had an opportunity to observe the development initiatives being undertaken by the government and the private sector of China by converting Kashgar into a regional trading hub in view of its proximity to Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Central Asian countries.

With the development of a huge tax free special economic zone, custom clearance on speedy business is being provided two-way transactions of goods and services to and from China, he added.

Rana Afzal said, with these huge developments, Kashgar is likely to transform economically and socially with presently 90 percent ethnic Muslims of this area who may not be economically strong will have job and economic opportunities.

He opined that Pakistan business community should also take advantage of the incentives offered by the Chinese Government for foreign investment in Kashgar.

The incentives being offered to Pakistani entrepreneurs include tax-free zones and rent-free homes and even paying the Pakistani business persons stipend for their household, he added.

About his meetings with Chinese leaders and government officials, he said that they expressed their resolve to further boost Pak-China deep rooted ties and economic cooperation.

He observed that it is heartening to note that all political forces in Pakistan stand united and unanimous over Pak-China friendship.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2014

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