BEIJING, Sep. 1 (APP):  The regional governor of Xinjiang Mr.  Nur Bekri Tuesday expressed his desire for further strengthening trade and cultural bonds with Pakistan.He expressed these views while meeting Federal Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim in Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang.Makhdoom Amin Fahim is participating at the 18the Urumqi Trade Fair at the invitation of Chinese Government to represent Pakistan at the fair that opened on Tuesday.

The Federal Commerce Minister while endorsing Governor Bekri’s views said that upgradation of Karakoram Highway which is currently in progress will help further strengthen our trade and tourism relationship.

Nur Bekri on the occasion also assured inviting maximum number of Pakistan businessmen in trade exhibitions in Xinjiang.In same way, the region governor assured sending  trade delegations from Xinjiang for participation in different exhibitions in Pakistan to strengthen economic bonds, the Commercial Counsellor at Pakistan Embassy Dr.  Naeem Khan who is accompanying Pakistani delegation told APP for Urumqi. 

The Northern Areas  Chamber of Commerce has also established a “Pakistan Pavilion” in the fair in which over 25 importers and exports of gems and jewelry have organized their stalls, he said.

Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim also visited the Pakistan Pavilion and exchanged views with his country’s exhibitors and enquired about their business activities.

He on the occasion informed them for submitting to him suggestions and proposals to address problem if any they faced and assured their immediate redressal.

The minister informed that next week a high-level delegation is arriving in Beijing to exchange views on promotion of trade with Chinese side.

As part of the fair, “A High-Level Forum for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation” will be held tomorrow (Wednesday). Members and observers states belonging to Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) including Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan will participate in the forum.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim will represent Pakistan and address the forum, said the Pakistani diplomat.The Urumqi fair, China’s only business event targeting central, west and south Asia has attracted more than 500 overseas businessmen from 29 countries and regions. It also attracted many business people from 21 inland provinces and municipalities.

The trade fair, in the capital city of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, covers an area of 35,000 square meters and has more than 2,000 exhibition booths, including a “Hong Kong Hall” and a “Pakistan Hall”.

The exhibition booths were sold out before the fair began, and is proof that the riot did not change Xinjiang’s geographical advantage, said Nur Bekri.

The annual trade fair first started in 1992. The total value of contracts signed with overseas businessmen at the fair in the past 17 years has reached 31.7 billion U.S. dollars.

The fair will end on Saturday.