BEIJING, May 25: China has offered new trade opportunities to Pakistani businessmen to undertake joint ventures in its western region, Xinjiang. Xingjiang, a Muslim majority province may emerge as hub of Sino-Pak economic cooperation, with new opening establishing joint ventures in the fields of agriculture, light industry, foodstuff, textile, medicines and petrochemical industry.
A province, with a population of 18.46 million, close to Pakistan’s border, envisages rich lucrative business opportunities for Pakistani entrepreneurs, said the Provincial Governor Abdul Ahad Abdul Rashid.
Unfolding an investment package for foreign investors, including those from Pakistan at a briefing, he said, “We offer to undertake joint ventures in the fields of common interest for improving socio-economic life of their people.”
Pakistan and Xinjiang that have distinction of enjoying land route communication link through Khunjrab Pass have bright prospects to further develop their economic ties, he added.
The briefing was especially arranged for the Beijing-based diplomats to apprise them of China’s new economic plan to develop its Western Province. The Provincial Governors listed 50 new projects for economic and technical cooperation and assured that the foreign investors would be provided all possible incentives to exploit Xinjiang together for the mutual benefit.
Deputy head of Pakistan mission in Beijing, Syed Hasan Javed who attended the briefing told APP here on Saturday that genuine and credible business companies should come forward to take benefit of the new opportunities, in the wake of the growing economic partnership between the two countries and China’s entry into WTO.
The Chinese government has already opened its border with Pakistan for the economic interaction, he said adding Pakistani businessmen could draw major benefits of the opportunities, provided they carry out their trade through legal way, strictly abiding by the prevailing rules and regulations.
Xinjiang has become the largest base for cotton production and one of the important productions regions for grain, husbandry, sugar, fruits and melons. It has full range of industries, including steel, coal, petroleum, power, and machinery, building materials, textile, papermaking, leather and tobacco.
In the recent years the two countries have made a good headway to improve their economic relations, but still they have to go a long way exploiting their excellent diplomatic relations for the economic benefit of their people.
Various Xinjiang-based Chinese companies have shown keen interest in cooperating with Pakistan for producing cheap electricity through windmills at its coastal areas.
“We can help Pakistan through joint ventures to install windmills or wind turbines at places where there is a steady wind blowing at least at a speed of 20-25 km per hour,” said Dong Fei Lin, Vice President Xinjiang International Economic Cooperation.
Pakistan and China can cooperate for manufacturing necessary equipments to set up windmills, which can be used to pump water for irrigation, grinding grain in agricultural fields and sailing ships.
China has also a distinction of having largest wind-power system infrastructure in Asia for producing alternative way of producing cheap electricity, particularly in the regions that are far away from large cities and towns.
Dong Fei said the countries, which are collaborating with each other in all fields of common interest, could also share their experience in developing modern designs of windmills and their proper utilization.—APP