China and Pakistan will open four new passenger and cargo road links in the first half of 2006, including one to the strategic Gwadar deep sea port for the first time, allowing the Communist giant the much-sought after access to the Persian Gulf region.
Two roads are for cargo transportation and the other two for passengers and they will be opened on May one and June one respectively, according to an agreement signed on Wednesday between the Transport Ministries of the two countries in Urumqi, capital of north-western China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The two cargo routes run from Kashi in southern Xinjiang to Pakistan's ports of Karachi, Qasim and Gwadar.
The passenger lines are from Kashi and Taxkorgan, also in southern Xinjiang, to Pakistan's northern Gilgit and Sost Pass respectively, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
China is building the Gwadar deep sea port on the Arabian Sea coast in Balochistan province.
The two Transport Ministries also agreed to have two regular meetings both in Pakistan and China to exchange information.
With the new road links, the number of such facilities between Pakistan and China will rise to eight, the report noted.
{{/usCountry}}With the new road links, the number of such facilities between Pakistan and China will rise to eight, the report noted.
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