31/05/2022
Today marked the formal inauguration of bilateral trade meeting between GB and Kashghar Prefecture. Led by Mr Muhayyudin Wani CS GB from Pakistan and Mr. Qiao Xianghua, Senior Commissioner of Kashi Prefecture from China.
Mr. Usman Ali, DC Hunza / Focal Person Border Trade laid the groundwork for the meeting. He set the agenda for the meeting after taking input from GB stakeholders.
The agenda points included:
• It is suggested to open Khunjrab border throughout the year.
• To support the lives and livelihood of the local population on both sides of the border, it is imperative that regular cross-border trade and people to people exchanges may be resumed.
• Formulation of mechanism to ensure Pakistani businessmen and visitors follow covid prevention and mandatory quarantine policies of Chinese government
• Constant communication between office of the Deputy Commissioner and a similar administrative office from Kashgar.
• Development of framework to facilitate tourism between Xinjiang and Gilgit Baltistan.
• Establishment of Chinese Expo Center in Hunza and Pakistani Expo Center in Tashkurgan.
Outcome of the meeting:
• Formulation of a bilateral working group which shall conduct meetings regularly to address business concerns, tariff and non-tariff issues, and free movement of people and goods. The working group shall be headed by DC Hunza / Focal Person Border Trade from GB side. He will regularly engage all stakeholders from GB. Chinese side shall nominate an officer in the follow up meeting.
• CS GB extended an invitation to the Chinese delegation to visit GB. He pledged to provide land for er****on of a monument representing Pakistan China friendship and offered to schedule cultural events in Pakistan representing cultures of both countries.
• Mr. Qiao Xianghua, Senior Commissioner of Kashi Prefecture, XinJiang Uygur Autonomous Region, as a goodwill gesture offered 300,000RMB Pendemic Control Goods and
100,000RMB House Supply Goods to GB government through diplomatic channel. He said that China shall send a team to Chief Secretary office to discuss issues in person. He ensured to establish smooth contact between Kashgar and GB and said that through constant communication we shall resolve the issues raised by both China and Pakistan regarding border trade.
• It was agreed from both sides to invest in infrastructure for pandemic control on both sides of the border.
