*BEIJING - The Chinese government has granted the status of “Guest of Honor” to Pakistan at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held from November 5 to 10.*
This will ensure the provision of all possible facilities and benefits to the Pakistani pavilion. The gesture also shows the level of commitment in China to make Pakistan part of a shared future,
according to an article published by Global Times here on Monday.
The expo offers a chance for global manufacturers and producers to showcase their products in order to gain access to China’s market.
The expo is also an opening for countries participating in the Belt and Road (B&R) initiative to boost their infrastructure upgrading and reach wider markets.
Pakistan is one such country, which is undergoing massive infrastructure development to align itself with global transportation and communication networks. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will create an advanced network of roads, railways and a deep-sea port that will boost trade with China, Central Asia and Europe.
China’s demand for imported food has been growing steadily, creating a market worth $58.28 billion last year, a 25 percent increase year-on-year.
Pakistan, on the other hand, has a largely agrarian economy. With the help of Chinese scientists, local agriculture specialists have successfully introduced modern farming techniques.
Hybrid rice and hybrid wheat have been the most successful products, seeing a marked increase in yield.