President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday toured the Kashgar Free Trade Zone, southern Xinjiang’s only facility of its kind and a vital hub for regional trade and logistics. The visit emphasised Pakistan-China’s growing economic partnership and the potential of cross-border connectivity to boost commerce.
Welcomed by Yao Ning, CPC Party Secretary of Kashgar, President Zardari received a detailed briefing on the zone’s rapid development since its inception in 2015. Spanning 3.56 square kilometres, the zone integrates bonded warehousing, logistics, processing, customs clearance, and air freight services. Today, it maintains trade links with 118 countries, exporting products ranging from electric vehicles and batteries to solar cells, high-tech equipment, and auto parts.
The zone’s strategic connectivity was highlighted during the briefing. Linked by road, rail, and air to both Asia and Europe, it also houses an international airport. Its trade corridors include the Sost port in Gilgit-Baltistan, just 400 kilometres away, and Gwadar port at a distance of 2,000 kilometres, making it a key player in regional supply chains.
Officials also briefed the President on the Digital Trade Centre launched in 2024, which now accommodates more than 5,400 enterprises. The Cross-Border E-Commerce Exhibition Centre, showcasing duty-free goods from Central Asia, Europe, South Korea, and Japan, was also part of the tour.
The delegation, including Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, and Pakistan’s ambassador to China, joined the visit. They were further updated on the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” initiative, which features an Uzbekistan industrial park offering 72-hour warehouse-to-warehouse delivery and a Kyrgyzstan-supported park under development for automotive assembly and LED production.
President Zardari’s visit reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing trade and economic cooperation with China through initiatives that strengthen connectivity, logistics, and digital commerce.
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