The five- year plan (2016-2020) adopted by the Chinese law-makers in the recent session of National People Congress provides a framework strengthening its socio-economic ties with Pakistan and other neighboring countries, said Xu Fenglin, a senior official of the administrative committee of the Kashgar’s Special Economic Zone
Economic corridor is a major step forward towards road to progress, bringing the relationship to new heights. The Plan states that China will continue to promote the Belt and Road Initiative by building its economic ties with South Asia and Central Asia including Pakistan.
The plan listed Xinjiang as a key region for the Belt and Road initiative. He told the local media that Kashgar is close to a growing market in South Asia and Central Asia and will seize the opportunity to develop local economies with the cooperation of the neighboring countries.
The Asian countries need funding to develop their infrastructure and industries, and border cities like Kashgar could become platforms for Chinese enterprises to transfer excess production,” said Xu.
He referred to President Xi Jinping’ statement which says “Asia is moving toward a community of common destiny and embraces a new future,” and Asian countries need to seek a win-win cooperation and common development.
The new plan released last Thursday says China vows to further develop and open up its borders, including the Tibet Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
As an important part of the country’s new Silk Road strategic initiative, opening up trade routes linking Central Asia and Southeast Asia will not only improve life and stability in China’s less developed border areas, but would also promote regional stability, experts said.
The 80-chapter 13th Five Year Plan, passed by the National People’s Congress on Wednesday, includes the country’s blueprint for the economy, national defense, social security, environmental protection and many other key sectors.
One chapter is devoted to the development of ethnic, border and less developed areas. Building infrastructure and the key channels linking to other countries is listed as a major task.
The outlines ambitions to build Xinjiang as an important gateway to the west, Tibet as the channel to South Asia, Yunnan Province as the channel to Southeast Asia and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as an international passage to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Tian Yun, director of the China Society of Macroeconomics research center, told the Global Times that the Five-Year-Plan attaches greater importance to border areas for it is in line with the needs of the country’s Belt and Road initiative.
Many places along the borders are transportation junctions and could become platforms to promote “Made in China” to neighboring countries, Tian added.
According to the 13th Five-Year Plan, the country will maintain medium-high growth to double its GDP and per capita income by 2020 from the 2010 level.
“Border areas are always plagued by ethnic and poverty issues. Implementing opening-up policies to develop their economies could help maintain social stability,” Tian said.
Kashgar is trying to attract both domestic and foreign investors to develop industries, including infrastructure and tourism.
Zhu Weiqun, chairman of the Ethnic and Religious Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, told the Global Times that the opening-up policies serves the needs of the Tibetan people and regional development.
The plan also vows to lift 50 million people out of poverty and build a moderately prosperous society in all aspects.
It added that China will reinforce anti-terrorism forces, advance national defense and military modernization and increase international cooperation.
It also aims to boost the country’s marine economy, support Hainan Province in developing the South China Sea, safeguard China’s maritime rights and interests and cope with any infringement of maritime rights, he added.
