President Zardari visits Kashgar Free Trade Zone, stresses on deeper Pak-China economic ties | The Express Tribune

President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday visited the Kashgar Free Trade Zone — the only facility of its kind in southern Xinjiang and a major trade and logistics hub. During the visit, Zardari urged a private Chinese airline to expand its operations in Pakistan to boost connectivity and deepen cultural ties.

The president, who is on a ten-day state visit to China since Sept 12, was received by Yao Ning, CPC Party Secretary of Kashgar. He was briefed on the zone’s rapid growth since its establishment in 2015.

Spread over 3.56 square kilometres, the zone combines bonded warehousing, logistics, processing, customs clearance and air freight services. It maintains trade links with 118 countries, exporting electric vehicles, batteries, solar cells, high-tech goods and auto parts.

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Officials informed Zardari that the zone is connected by road, rail and air to both Asia and Europe, and has its own international airport. It is also linked with Sost port in Gilgit-Baltistan — 400 kilometres away — and Gwadar port, 2,000 kilometres away, making it a vital gateway for imports and exports.

During his tour, the president also visited stalls showcasing products from Central Asia, Europe, South Korea and Japan.

He was briefed on the Digital Trade Centre, established in 2024, which now hosts more than 5,400 companies. He also toured the cross-border e-commerce exhibition centre displaying duty-free products from Central Asia, Europe and beyond.

Zardari was updated on the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” initiative — including an Uzbekistan-backed industrial park offering 72-hour warehouse-to-warehouse delivery and a Kyrgyzstan-backed park under development for auto assembly and LED production.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Pakistan ambassador to China and the Chinese envoy to Pakistan accompanied the president.

Air connectivity

Later in the day, the president met Serene Air CEO Yunchun Yang, who shared the airline’s expansion plans for Pakistan.

Zardari urged the airline to enhance its connectivity and services. Yang, who holds a PhD from the University of California and leads a semiconductor firm with operations in China, Sweden and the US, pledged further investment in Pakistan’s aviation sector.

Serene Air is the first Chinese private investment in Pakistan’s aviation industry and the first Pakistani airline to operate direct flights to Beijing. Yang also highlighted the company’s joint projects with the Pakistan Air Force on JF-17 avionics.

Academic linkages

The president also visited Kashgar University, the leading higher education institution in southern Xinjiang, where he was welcomed by Party Secretary Ding Bangwen, faculty and students.

Established in 1962 and upgraded to university status in 2015, the institution now has three campuses and over 40,000 students and faculty, including several hundred foreigners. Enrollment is expected to rise to nearly 50,000 in the coming years.

Zardari praised the university’s contributions across science, engineering, agriculture, social sciences, arts and culture. He called the institution the closest Chinese university to Pakistan and a vital bridge for academic and cultural exchange.

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Highlighting the Pakistan-China Strategic Cooperative Partnership, the president underscored the importance of youth and education in strengthening long-term ties.

He was also briefed on the Centre for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which supports Belt and Road research and collaboration.

Engaging with Pakistani students — many from Gilgit, Hunza, Dir and Chitral — Zardari asked about their studies and living conditions. The students said their tuition and accommodation were fully funded by the Chinese government along with stipends for food and expenses.

Zardari urged them to excel in their fields and contribute to strengthening Pakistan-China friendship.