China plans to invest 2.3 billion yuan (US$294 million) to
upgrade highways linking border trading areas in western China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in the
coming five years to facilitate booming trade with neighboring
countries.
The central government and the regional government of Xinjiang
will jointly fund the upgrading of 802 kilometers of highways
linking the region with neighboring countries such as Russia,
Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Xinjiang has a border that extends for 5,600 kilometers and has
opened 15 customs posts and 101 highways for passenger and cargo
transportation between the region and neighboring countries.
China's trade with central Asian countries has boomed in recent
years. China-Kazakhstan trade volume hit US$6 billion in 2005
alone.
In the first three quarters of 2006, China-Russia trade volume
hit US$24.64 billion, up 18.8 percent. The yearlong trade volume is
expected to hit a record high of US$36 billion.
Statistics from China's General Administration of Customs show
that trade volume between China and Mongolia from January to
September 2006 hit US$1.13 billion.
(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2007)