Major Chinese companies have assured their support to Pakistan, enhancing bilateral trade under the Early Harvest Programme (EHP) particularly through the land route.
The companies' representatives at a business seminar held at Urumqi, capital of China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region, expressed their willingness to expand economic ties. The seminar was organised by the Export Promotion Bureau and the Pakistan Embassy to create awareness amongst the business community about the EHP, being launched from January, 2006 under which the two countries will bring excise duty at zero rate on certain items.
It was addressed, among others by Vice Governor of Xinjiang Region Chen Lei, Chinese Ambassador in Islamabad Zhang Chunxiang and Pakistani Ambassador to China Salman Bashir.
Commercial Counsellor, Shahid Mahmood told APP here on Saturday that the seminar was highly successful and it attracted about 250 businessmen from the two countries. He said it provided a good opportunity to develop interaction among the business community. The occasion coincided with Urumqi's international trade fair that included a special Pakistan's pavilion, projecting country's rich trade potential.