ISLAMABAD - SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI) President Ruwan Edirisinghe Monday urged for deeper economic cooperation with China saying that this collaboration will usher in a new era of progress, prosperity, development, economic growth and welfare of people of the region.

Briefing the SAARC CCI Senior Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik by telephone about the outcome of the Chinese visit, Ruwan said their recent visit to China was a great success in term of increasing trade volume among the SAARC states and China," says a press release issued here Monday.

He said the South Asian states would make SAARC a vibrant and viable organisation to reap the advantages of regional connectivity schemes such as China's One-Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, which also includes the mega project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He said there is dire need of fostering trade relation with China from collective platform of SAARC instead of developing relation separately.

He said many South Asian countries were entering new relations with China.

He said all the South Asian countries were working in the same direction individually why they did not work together. SAARC CCI high-level business delegation attended the 3-days 13th China South Asia Business Forum held in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China while Shaharyar Ali Malik, Vice Chairman SAARC Youth Entrepreneurs Forum represented Pakistan. SAARC CCI President said there is a need for SAARC to learn from the success of ASEAN.

He said that Indonesia, the biggest economy in the ASEAN, allowed smaller countries such as Singapore to take the lead and India should do so and must take a back seat in decision-making, enabling others to build a more harmonious SAARC process.

Iftikhar appreciating the role and result oriented efforts of Ruwan for making SAARC Chamber more vibrant, said Pakistan seeks greater role of China in SAARC states as China is always keen to support accelerating connectivity to South Asia.

He said China has deepened cooperation in trade, investment and agriculture in SAARC since it became an observer in 2006. "Chinese investments into South Asia amounted to $30 billion and Chinese loans at concessional rates to South Asia amounted to $25 billion. Besides this, China was giving 10,000 scholarships for South Asian students, apart from providing skills training to thousands of others," he said.

He said that South Asia is mired in several crisis and conflicts at the moment due to various unresolved political and geographical factors and all these issues would be resolved effectively through strong regional connectivity and business to business contacts.

Highlighting the role of China in building the South Asian economy, he said China is the world's second largest economy and a global power.

The theme of the forum is "Shaping Future Together-Industrial Cooperation of Mutual Opening".

The forum plays pioneering role in promoting mutual understanding, economic and trade cooperation and information communication between China and South Asian countries. It will provide great resources and amenities to facilitate business opportunities.

He said this visit would generate the new openings and growth prospects for business communities of China and South Asia.

Furthermore, it will strengthen the private sector, stimulate entrepreneurship, and enhance better communication and relationship between the SAARC member states and China.

Adviser to SAARC Chamber Zubair Ahmad Malik, Secretary General SAARC Chamber Hina Saeed and Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Deputy Secretary General also attended the all proceeding of the forum and series of round table meetings.