Construction on the second largest border trade zone in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region completed recently. It is expected to open to Kazakhstan next Spring.

 

The trade zone is located at Jeminay in northern Xinjiang, bordering Kazakhstan. The project, which has an area of 105,000 square meters, cost 20.08 million yuan (US$2.4 million).

 

The trade zone is able to accommodate 10,000 merchants and handles 100 million yuan-worth of commodities annually, second only to Korgos Port, which also borders Kazakhstan.

 

According to an agreement reached between China and Kazakhstan, residents of both countries may do business, processing, re-export and sightseeing at the trade zone with valid ID cards. Visas are not required.

 

Currently, most daily necessities, especially food, clothes and building materials, in Kazakhstan and Russia came from China.

 

Establishment of the trade zone at Jeminay is sure to promote border trade between China and Russia and Kazakhstan, said Huo Xiaolin, an official with the Jeminay Border Port.

 

The county government of Jeminay has worked out a series of measures to take in investment from businessmen at home and abroad.

 

Xinjiang, which covers 1.6 million square km, makes up one-sixth of China's territory and shares 5,600 km of borders with Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The region has opened up 16 land ports to foreign visitors and businesses.   

(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2004)