China plans to launch cargo service to Pakistan through CPEC

Author:admin Time:2017-07-27 Hit：1115

BEIJING: China is planning to launch a road and rail freight service to Pakistan through the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a move which could raise concerns in India+ .

The new line will start from Lanzhou, capital of northwestern China's Gansu Province, travelling through Kashgar in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the Gwadar Port of Pakistan, Xu Chunhua, director of Lanzhou International Trade and Logistic Park, was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.

However, it has not been specified when the service will be launched.

In May last year, a rail and road cargo service opened between Lanzhou and Kathmandu.

Xu said the cargo service has been welcomed by south Asian countries.

In 2016, bilateral trade between China and Nepal was over 3 billion yuan (about $440 million), and the volume is forecast to hit 10 billion yuan this year.

Last November, China launched the first trade convoy carrying Chinese goods for export through the western route of the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir+ and shipped it through Gwadar port.

The CPEC plan included a train service connecting both the countries in addition to the road connectivity.

The goods were brought by train till Xinjiang and then taken by trucks through the Karakoram mountains. The goods will be exported to countries in the Middle East and Africa.

India has objected to the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, (CPEC) which is part of the Silk Road.