Strategic Importance

When the corridor is completed, it will serve as a primary gateway for trade
between China and the Middle East and Africa. In particular, oil from the Middle
East could be offloaded at Pakistan's Gwadar Port, which is located just outside the
mouth of the Persian Gulf, and transported to China through the Balochistan
province. Such a link would vastly cut the 12,000-kilometre route that Mideast oil
supplies must now take to reach Chinese ports. Gwadar is located on the shores of
the Arabian Sea it is in Pakistan's western province of Balochistan.
Strategic Importance for China
This trade initiative has strategic importance for China as well as Pakistan as it
would provide an opportunity to reach out to the Central Asian states through
Pakistan and Afghanistan.
There is an integrated communication network which would not only benefit
Pakistan but also China to help open a new vista of trade with the rest of the world
in a short period of time. Chinese trade through this route would grow manifold.
In order to operationalise China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Chinese
government has set up a special economic zone in the historical city of Kashgar,
which is the border city between China and Pakistan.
The New Kashgar Economic Zone is spread on 6600 acres of land and various
provincial governments of China and some private firms are developing their own
projects within the tax free zone.
All necessary civic facilities are available in Kashgar New City Project where the
preservation of farms is also being ensured. In the eastern part of the Kashgar New
City, residential areas, hospitals, parks and other civic facilities are being made
available. Since Kashgar borders eight countries, a business city has been named
after each country of the region.
Conclusion
The business community of the entire region may benefit from the ambitious
project designed to share and expand the trade opportunities for progress and
development of South Asia. This would not only help regional governments to
fight poverty, illiteracy and religious fanaticism, but would also bring development
and prosperity of the people of around ten developing states.