President Asif Ali Zardari visited the Kashgar free trade zone on Saturday, the only installation of this type in southern Xinjiang and an important trade and logistics center. During the visit, Zardari urged a private Chinese airline to expand their operations in Pakistan to boost connectivity and deepen cultural ties.
Yao NO, secretary of Kashgar of the CPC party, received the president, who is on a ten -day state visit to China since September 12. He was informed about the rapid growth of the area since his establishment in 2015.
It extends more than 3.56 square kilometers, the area combines united storage, logistics, processing, customs authorization and air cargo services. It maintains commercial links with 118 countries, exporting electric vehicles, batteries, solar cells, high -tech products and auto parts.
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The authorities informed Zardari that the area is connected by road, rail and air to Asia and Europe, and has its own international airport. It is also linked to Port Sust in Gilgit-Baltistan, 400 kilometers away, and the port of Gwadar, 2,000 kilometers away, which makes it a vital gateway for imports and exports.
During his tour, the president also visited positions that show products from Central Asia, Europe, South Korea and Japan.
It was informed about the Digital Trade Center, established in 2024, which now houses more than 5,400 companies. He also toured the cross -border electronic trade exhibition center that shows tax free products from Central Asia, Europe and beyond.
Zardari was updated on the initiative “Two countries, twin parks”, including an industrial park backed by Uzbekistan that offers 72 hours to the delivery of warehouse to storage and a park backed by Kyrgyzstan in development for car assembly and directed production.
Senator Salem Mandviwalla, Sindh Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Pakistan ambassador to China and the Chinese envoy in Pakistan accompanied the president.
Air connectivity
Later in the day, the president met the CEO of Serene Air, Yunchun Yang, who shared the expansion plans of the airline for Pakistan.
Zardari urged the airline to improve its connectivity and services. Yang, who has a doctorate from the University of California and leads a semiconductor company with operations in China, Sweden and the United States, promised an additional investment in the Pakistan aviation sector.
Serene Air is the first Chinese private investment in the Pakistan aviation industry and the first Pakistani airline in operating direct flights to Beijing. Yang also highlighted the company’s joint projects with Pakistan Air Force on JF-17 plane.
Academic links
The president also visited the University of Kashgar, the main institution of higher education in southern Xinjiang, where he was well received by the secretary of the Ding Bangwen party, the faculty and the students.
Established in 1962 and improved to the university state in 2015, the institution now has three campuses and more than 40,000 students and teachers, including several hundred foreigners. Registration is expected to increase almost 50,000 in the coming years.
Zardari praised the contributions of the University in Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Arts and Culture. He called the Institution the Chinese University closer to Pakistan and a vital bridge for academic and cultural exchange.
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Highlighting the Strategic Cooperative Association of Pakistan-China, the President stressed the importance of youth and education in strengthening long-term ties.
He was also informed about the center of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which supports the research and collaboration of Belt and Road.
Commit to the Pakistani students, many of Gilgit, Hunza, Dir and Chitral, Zardari asked about their studies and living conditions. The students said that their registration and accommodation were fully funded by the Chinese government together with food stipes and expenses.
Zardari urged them to excel in their fields and contribute to strengthening the friendship of Pakistan-China.
