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China's far-western Xinjiang region is in favour of establishingdirect trade links over land with India and Afghanistan to avoidrouting trade through third party countries such as Pakistan,officials have said. A top official of China's far-western Xinjiang region toldreporters that the lack of land ports linking China to India andAfghanistan was hampering cross-border economic ties, making a casefor greater connectivity. "By having two-way trade through a third country, it isdifficult for the development of two-way trade," said ShiDagang, Vice-Chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regiongovernment, speaking ahead of the start of the Shanghai CooperationOrganisation (SCO) summit meeting in Beijing on Wednesday. Boosting China's economic links with the SCO member and observercountries in Central and South Asia is on the summit's agenda. Agreater economic and strategic role for the six-member securityorganisation in Afghanistan, which is expected to be granted statusas an observer this week, is also in focus. Xinjiang, thefar-western Muslim majority region, has been declared by Beijing asits ‘bridgehead' to the west. The region, Mr. Shi pointedout, shared a 5,743 kilometre boundary with eight countries, fourof which — Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan —were SCO members and the four others — Mongolia, Afghanistan,Pakistan and India — SCO observer countries. "With time, and in accordance with need of construction anddevelopment of Afghanistan, I believe that border trade and smallborder trade between Xinjiang and Afghanistan will be promoted anddeveloped," Mr. Shi said. He acknowledged that the lack of infrastructure across the narrow90 kilometre China-Afghanistan border, near the area known as theWakhan corridor, was an obstacle to trade. "At present, wehave no land ports so the two-way trade has to be routed through athird country, which is either Tajikistan or Pakistan," hesaid. China and Afghanistan are expected to sign a joint declaration thisweek on "establishing a strategic and cooperativepartnership" and elevating ties to a higher level. China hasmoved quickly to bolster is economic ties with the country, signinga number of deals for mining projects, including the $4.4 billionAynak copper mine. With the looming withdrawal of NATO troops by2014, the SCO is looking to play a greater role in the country,although China has expressed its wariness at expanding itsengagement into non-economic areas, such as training Afghansecurity forces. Mr. Shi said Xinjiang also wanted to boost land trade with India."We have no land port with India so our trade with India hasto be routed through Pakistan, through places likeRawalpindi," he said. "It only takes 50 minutes by airfrom New Delhi to Kashgar, while the land distance is only 1,200km. I believe that with our relationship deepening this trade linkwill be further utilised." Xinjiang is keen to reach out tothe Indian market, with trade with Pakistan, through the disputedPakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) region, reaching only $400 millionannually. Flooding on the Karakoram highway was a major barrier,Mr. Shi said. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China RGB Led Wall Washers , Led Candle Light Bulbs for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Brightest Led Light Bulb.
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