Pakistan and China to develop Xinjiang as hub of economic partnership

Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain and Governor Xinjiang Uyger Autonomous Region Ismail Tiliwaldi held talks here and discussed various proposals to strengthen their socio-economic ties.
Official sources told APP the two sides on Sunday night agreed Xinjiang, a Muslim-majority area, bordering the two countries should be developed as hub of their economic partnership.
Amir Hussain who is on a 10-day visit to China as the head of a 20-member parliamentary delegation said Pakistan attaches special important to its relations with China and wishes to translate their exemplary diplomatic ties for the economic benefit of their people.
He said the leadership of the two countries was agreed to work out necessary modalities for establishing a free trade area to enhance volume of their trade and other economic activities.
Governor Xinjiang said China would welcome Pakistani businessmen to develop joint ventures with their Chinese counterparts in the areas of bilateral interest.
He said China was glad to see rapid economic progress in Pakistan under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf.
He said Pakistan and China shared common views on regional and international issues, especially on countering terrorism. He recalled his recent visit to Pakistan which he said proved very useful to understand each other.
Amir Hussain said the businessmen of both countries could benefit from the under-construction port at Gwadar and the Karakoram Highway. They, he added should also work together utilising their natural resources in their respective northern areas.
Earlier, the Parliamentary delegation also had a meeting with Abdurehim Amet Chairman of the Standing Committee of Xinjiang People's Congress.
The two sides discussed future prospects of enhancing bilateral trade. It was noted that the China western region could act as a bridge promoting China's trade with Pakistan and other neighbouring countries as well as the Central Asian States.
The region has registered a record dollar 3 billion in foreign trade last year, up 45.8 percent from the previous year. The region achieved a growth of 65 percent in its exports worth dollar 1.35 billion last year, the highest growth rate in the country. The remote region recorded exports mainly via barter and general trade.
Amir Hussain said Pakistani and Chinese traders could join hands for undertaking joint ventures for developing export-oriented industry to tab new market in Central Asia states. He suggested big Pakistani companies should establish their representative offices in the region for exploring new opportunities.