LAHORE: Trade volume between China and Pakistan totaled US$ 12.56 billion in the first half of 2021, showing an increase of 1.6 times against the same period last year, Cheng Xizhong, Visiting Professor at Southwest University of Political Science and Law and Senior Fellow of the Charhar Institute said.
According to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, trade volume between China and Pakistan has increased explosively against the global trend under the serious impact of the pandemic.
In an article published by CEN, he said the main reasons are as follows: First, over the past two years, China and Pakistan have overcome the impact of the pandemic and jointly promoted the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Special economic zones, special technological zones, industrial parks, and agricultural demonstration zones in Pakistan have been carried out in an all-round way, which has greatly improved the business environment in Pakistan.
Many foreign enterprises, especially Chinese enterprises, have greatly increased their investment in Pakistan, and multiple Chinese enterprises from a variety of industries have settled down in Pakistan and cooperate with local companies across different industries by providing them with modern technologies and equipment. This has greatly enhanced the production and export of Pakistan’s commodities.
Second, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The both sides take this opportunity to comprehensively promote bilateral relations, including trade and economic cooperation, to a new height.
China-Pakistan relations have become more pragmatic, and economic and trade cooperation has further consolidated the foundation of traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.