China plans new economic zones in Xinjiang border towns

China aims to complete infrastructure for economic development zones at Kashgar and Khorgos.


Reuters October 08, 2011
China plans new economic zones in Xinjiang border towns

BEIJING: China announced on Saturday that it plans to use subsidies and tax incentives to build two new economic zones in the far western region of Xinjiang, to open up the landlocked west and boost trade with Central and South Asian neighbours.

In a detailed policy outline posted on the central government's website (www.gov.cn), the State Council, or cabinet, aims to "basically complete" infrastructure for economic development zones (EDZ) at Kashgar and Khorgos.

Xinjiang is strategically vital to China, accounting for one-sixth of the country's land mass and rich in oil, gas, coal and other mineral resources. It borders Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Mongolia, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and India, and is a politically sensitive region as many Uighurs, a Turkic-speaking Muslim people native to Xinjiang, resent Chinese controls on religion, culture and language.

Electronics, textiles, metallurgy and renewable energy manufacturing would be key areas for development in Kashgar, an oasis in south-western part of Xinjiang, the statement said, while Khorgos would focus on chemicals, farm products and pharmaceuticals.

"By 2020, the two economic zones would see a great leap in competitiveness in these industries and overall economic strength," the statement said. Khorgos, already an entry point of the landmark Turkmenistan-China natural gas pipeline, has also won government approval to become an import point for and automobiles.

The government also plans to encourage Chinese and international airlines to open new routes to neighbouring countries and speed up construction of rail lines linking Xinjiang with Uzbekistan and Pakistan, the statement said.

COMMENTS (14)

Love China | 13 years ago | Reply

I never said American foreign policy is good. How many Pakistanis or Muslims have protested against war on innocent Muslims (Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan)? It's the Americans and Europeans themselves who have taken out their largest protests in history, in favor of Muslims! How many Chinese came out? Americans and Europeans themselves are stuck in the grip of the policies, including foreign policy, of a small group of people called "The Illuminati". What you say is right, but entirely a different topic. What i said is that the Chinese people, as a whole, don't like the Pakistani people, as a whole, as a general trend, or as a preference, and so is their official policy. Their government is a people's government. They care for their people's tastes. Their people don't like Pakistanis. They like Americans/Europeans.

Junaid | 13 years ago | Reply

@Love China: Atleast China never harmed a Pakistani ever. How many Pakistanis have been killed because of America's war OF terror. How many Pakistanis have directly been killed by U.S. drone strikes. Please dont compare China Angel to Amreeka Devil.

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