Kashi in northwest China's Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region is an ancient city that lies on the Old
Silk Road. The city established a trade market Wednesday at its
border with Pakistan to facilitate business activities between the
two sides.
The market, covering an area of 1,700 square meters, is located
on the Hunqrap Pass near the China-Pakistan border.
Kashi officials said some preferential policies had been adopted
to encourage business.
For example, business people are exempt from paying a tariff if
their daily turnover is less than 3,000 yuan (US$360), said Chen
Ji, vice mayor of Kashi.
The border trade market will be open every Tuesday and
Wednesday.
"In the future, we will take measures to improve policies and
facilities relating to the market and gradually develop it into a
free trade area between China and Pakistan," said Chen.
Kashi, located in the southwestern part of Xinjiang, has a
history of more than 2,000 years. More than 90 percent of its
population?are ethnic Uygurs.
Situated strategically at the junction of the southern and
northern routes of the Old Silk Road, historically it was an
important trading stop for merchants from many parts of the world
plying the trading route.
The city is now planning to take advantage of its geographical
position to develop a trade center linking China to other Central
Asian countries.
Xinjiang neighbors eight countries: Pakistan, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, India and
Turkmenistan.
Besides developing trade ties with its neighbors, the city is
also making efforts to provide access for companies in China's
coastal areas to develop business relations with these
countries.
The TV manufacturer HiSense from Qingdao in east China's Shandong
Province has set up a television assembly line in Kashi. The
factory has become an important base for the company allowing it to
more easily export TVs to neighboring countries, said Yalikun
Mahanmut, mayor of the city.
Pakistan has also set up a Zakun International Trade Center in
Kashi, the mayor added.
(China Daily June 16, 2005)