Kashgar: President Asif Ali Zardari visited the Kashgar Free Trade Zone in Xinjiang, China.

According to Radio Pakistan, the President was received by CPC Party Secretary of Kashgar, Yao Ning, and was briefed on the zone’s growth since its establishment in 2015. The zone is the only facility of its kind in southern Xinjiang and serves as an important hub for trade and logistics in the region. It is connected by road, rail, and air to both Asia and Europe, with its own international airport.

The zone is linked with Sost port in Gilgit-Baltistan, just 400 kilometers away, and with Gwadar port at a distance of 2,000 kilometers. It handles both imports and exports through these routes. The zone spans 3.56 square kilometers and includes bonded warehousing, logistics, processing, customs clearance, and air freight services. It maintains trade links with 118 countries, exporting products such as electric vehicles, batteries, solar cells, high-tech goods, and auto parts.

Officials further briefed the President on the digital trade center established in 2024, now home to more than 5,400 companies, and the cross-border e-commerce exhibition center showcasing duty-free products from Central Asia, Europe, and beyond. The “Two Countries, Twin Parks” initiative was also discussed, including an authorized Uzbekistan industrial park that enables warehouse-to-warehouse delivery within 72 hours, and a Kyrgyzstan-backed park under development for automotive assembly and LED production.

During his visit, President Zardari toured stalls and kiosks representing countries including Central Asian states, European countries, South Korea, and Japan. He was accompanied by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, and the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan.