Border on the Khunjerab Pass, symbol of China-Pakistan friendship road. [Photo by Wang Lie/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Located in the center of Eurasia, Kashgar has long served as an important area for trade between Europe and Asia. It also has the most developed economy and the biggest foreign trade volume in the southern part of Xinjiang.

Kashgar bonded area, the first bonded area in the southern part of Xinjiang, was opened in April. It tries to attract companies for cross-border e-commerce and international logistics through preferential policies on trade control, bonded supervision and foreign exchange.

As one of the biggest logistics companies in Kashgar, Rundong Logistics transported over 40,000 tons of goods between China and Pakistan. Its major customers include China Road and Bridge Corporation and Xinjiang Beixin Road & Bridge Group.

"The volume of goods from Kashgar to Pakistan will see a huge increase with the construction of energy pipelines, telecommunication projects, power stations and other infrastructure there," said Yuan Youjun, general manager of Rundong Logistics.

Recently State Grid Corporation of China has signed a deal with Pakistan to invest in a power transmission and distribution project, the first to be opened to an overseas investor.

Constructed by the Chinese HVDC transmission technique, this project will not only ease the power shortage in the middle and northern part of Pakistan, but also supports Chinese companies to build power supply projects in the south.

Karokoram Highway, the only land access between Kashgar and Islamabad, was destroyed by a debris several years ago. Since that, Pakistan has built a bridge over the dammed lake and the highway is expected to be reopened in September.

"According to the volume in the first six months and the deal we have signed, remarkable growth can be expected this year after the highway is reopened, an around 33 percent increase of the total volume compared with the year before, " added Yuan.

Given the relatively backward economic development of Pakistan and other Middle East countries, experts on CPEC suggest that an innovative cooperation mode should be used for Xinjiang to open to the west and the south.

The trade volume between China and Pakistan is small while the trade surplus is huge. The unbalanced situation of import and export is becoming more serious, said Guo Lingzhen, deputy director of the Kashgar Prefecture Customs Control and Inspection Council.

"I hope the two countries can better develop China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which will give us more business opportunities and lead us to a better life," said Hussein.

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