China's far western Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region saw trade with neighboring Kazakstan increase by 80.7 percent in the first 10 months of this year.

According to Xinjiang Customs, the total trade volume between Xinjiang and Kazakstan was US$2.3 billion in the Jan. to Oct. period.

The autonomous region's exports to the central Asian country stood at US$1 billion, making up 59 percent of Xinjiang's total import and export trade and a rise of 152.5 percent over the same period last year, while imports were US$1.3 billion, up 49.6 percent, according to statistics.

The region's imports from Kazakstan were mainly crude oil, copper, rolled steel and iron ore.

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2003)