BEIJING, March 23: China and Pakistan will open four new passenger and cargo road links in the first half of the year, Chinese State media reported on Thursday. Two of the four roads are for cargo transportation and the other two are for passengers and they will be opened on May 1 and June 1 respectively, according to an agreement signed between the senior officials of the two countries in Urumqi, capital of northwestern China’s Xinjiang Uigur autonomous region.

The two cargo routes run from Kashi in southern Xinjiang to Pakistan’s ports of Karachi, Qasim and Gwadar.

The passenger lines run from Kashi and Taxkorgan, also in southern Xinjiang, to Pakistan’s Northern Gilgit and Sost Pass respectively.

Officials of the two sides agreed to have two regular meetings each year, one in Pakistan and the other in China, to exchange information.

The number of road links between Pakistan and China will rise to eight.—APP