BEIJING, April 25 (APP) Ambassador Masood Khan said here on Monday that Kashgar offers golden opportunities for Pakistani traders due to its close neighbourhood and the economic initiatives taken by the Chinese Government. He was talking to a group of Pakistani journalists at Pakistan’s Embassy who were visiting China as part of 60th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

As China is expanding its economic activities across the country especially from east to west the ‘Kashgar Special Economic Zone’ provides good opportunities to Pakistani traders for doing business with Chinese counterparts.
He said that Pakistan’s exports to China in the period January to December 2010 increased by nearly $500 million and their overall growth rate was 37.4 percent.
According to the figures released by China Customs, the total Pakistani exports to China in 2010 were $1.7 billion compared to $1.2 billion in 2009. In 2010 the total volume of Pakistan-China trade rose by $2 billion to $8.7 billion approximately.
Ambassador Khan said that textiles, ores and mineral products, leather, fish and sea food, garments and medical and surgical instruments saw faster growth rates.
Last year, Pakistan’s imports from China also increased by $1.4 billion and the total volume imports from China stood at $6.9 billion.
The two governments have agreed on a series of measures to reduce the trade deficit. In this regard, China would be sending purchase missions to Pakistan to identify suitable Pakistani products for Chinese markets.         
Pakistani traders and businessmen will be attending major trade exhibitions in Kunming, Guangzhou, Urumqi, Kashgar, Dalian, and Beijing. Trade/business seminars would also be held to create greater space for Pakistani products in China.              
Pakistan has requested assistance from China in vocational and technical training in the areas of value added textiles, gems and jewellery, ceramics, surgical instruments, leather and light engineering.
Highlighting Pakistan, China cooperation in diverse fields, Ambassador Khan said that the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif during his just concluded visit signed an agreement with China’s top generating company for 120 MW hydro power project on Taunsa.
He said that we are cooperating in economic, culture, science and technology, education as well as defence.
At present, he said a 100-member delegation of young Pakistani is visiting China at the invitation of All China Youth Federation while a Chinese youth delegation earlier paid a very successful visit to Pakistan.
He told the media delegation that with the cooperation of China, Pakistan is going to put into the air the communication satellite on August 14, an auspicious occasion for Pakistan day.
The satellite will carry the communication pay-load that consists of internet broadband; TV channels distributions, tele-medicine and tele-education.
“We want cooperation with China in Remote Sensing satellite and in its space programme,” Ambassador Khan said.
On defence, he said that JF-17 fighters and Al-Khalid tank projects are the shining example of our friendship, while Chinese supplied AWAC plane will be commissioned within two years.