http://www.dawn.com/2006/01/22/ebr14.htm


Pakistan’s trade with Xinjiang rises

BEIJING, Jan 21: China’s Xinjiang reported trade worth $340 million with Pakistan during 2005, showing an upward trend in their economic interactions.

Pakistan emerged as the third largest trading partner of the region after Central Asian states — Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The northwest China’s region’s trade turnover with Kazakhstan surpassed $5 billion, 1.7 billion more than 2004, statistics show. Kyrgyzstan was the second largest trading partner of Xinjiang last year, with a trade turnover of $740 million, up 60 per cent year-on-year.

Xinjiang, a Muslim-majority region bordering Pakistan, was expecting more trade with Pakistan, with the implementation of special tariff package this year, said Zhang Yei, a senior official of the region’s foreign trade and economic cooperation department.

In an interview with APP, he said economic activities between the two stepped up after the visit of Premier Wen Jibao to Pakistan last year and signing of the Early Harvest Programme.

Pakistan’s entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has also opened new avenues of economic interaction with China and Central Asia, especially through the land route.

The Xinjiang region, striving to rejuvenate the past glory of the ancient Silk communication network, carried rich potential to become a centre of trade and economic cooperation, linking China with Pakistan and rest of the world.—APP

Kazak trade was $5 billion, what did they buy. If Increase of 60% is anything to go by then by next year we should see $550 million trade. Central Asia has a very good oppourtuniy to do good business with China i hope pakistan capitalise's on this. We should make railway link to central asian countrys.

Oil and aircraft (helo).

can't really compete against that

340 million is really nothing! And china is our greatest ally. It should be increased greatly and quickly.

Oil i know of but aircraft which helos. Could you expand on this

China has been a long term customer of the Kazan Group for decades, specifically the Ulan-Ude Aircraft factory that build the Mi helicopters. Currently there are some 35 Mi-17, 70 Mi-171, 70 Mi-171V5 and an unknown number of Mi-8 in PLAAF and PLA army aviation services. There are reportedly a number of Mi-26 heavylifters under the "civilian" CUA code and color. The on-going contracts call for delivery of up to 24 helos per year till 2010.

That is from one province only.

we shd trate with eastern provinces of china near shanghai and beijing there are all the rich chinese people staying

I thought these were all Russian?

Before it became independent in 1992 Kazakhstan was part of the former Soviet Union. So, yes the Mi helicopter was a Soviet/Russian design. In fact the turbo-shaft engines that power these helos are made by Klimov, a Russian aero-engine company.

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html


Exports to China jump 39pc in 2005

BEIJING: Pakistan’s exports to China showed an upward trend, registering an increase of about 39.2 per cent last year, the Chinese Custom Authority said.

The exports totalled $832 million during January to December 2005 compared to exports of $594 million in the previous year (January-December 2004). Therefore, the increase in Pakistan’s exports to China in one year amounted to about $238 million.

Custom Authority sources told APP here on Saturday there was a considerable jump in the exports of cotton yarn, cotton fabric, leather, chromium ore, copper and fish.

China calculates export figures on the basis of origin of exported items, including those that come to the mainland through Hong Kong. The Chinese financial calendar runs from January to December.

When asked to comment on future prospects of Pakistan’s trade with China, Commercial Counsellor in Pakistan Embassy, Shahid Mahmood said there was still great room for enhancing exports, particularly of value-added textile products like cotton fabric, manmade fabric, home textile and towel.

The growing Chinese market also provides wide opportunities for Pakistani traders to enhance the export of non-traditional items like sports and engineering goods, handicrafts, marble, onyx, jewellery and agro-based products.

Pakistan’s exports to China are likely to get a further boost, with the reduction of tariff on a number of products under the Early Harvest Programme (EHP) that came into effect from January 1, 2006. The margin of duty reduction by China is around 27 per cent.

Shahid Mahmood hoped the trade volume would increase in the coming months when rice, mango and other agro-based products would be included in the list of exports to China.

There are bright prospects to take Pakistan’s annual export volume to US$1 billion by the end of this year.

An official of the Chinese Commerce Ministry suggested maximum number of Pakistani businessmen should visit Beijing to explore new openings in trade.

According to economic experts, there are very favourable indications for the two countries to enhance their overall trade as tariff on most of the items would come to zero by the end of 2008.