Source: CCTV.com

01-23-2008 11:10

China and Kazakhstan are planning to set up a cooperative trade zone in Baktu, opening up an important land route connecting the two sides.

China and Kazakhstan are planning to set up a cooperative trade zone in Baktu, opening up an important land route connecting the two sides.

Baktu is located in Tacheng City in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Baktu has a 200-year history as a center for trade, though it was only officially opened in July 1995. Baktu has become a major channel for the fruits and vegetable trade between China and Kazakhstan.

One Kazakhstani driver said "On average, we come here every three to four days to get apples. The apples here are really good."

Trade through Baktu comes from 10 industrial cities in Kazakhstan and Russia, which are often short of fruits and vegetables. Tacheng city has established vegetable production lines, which include everything from planting through the final transportation of the vegetables.

Zhang Hongfeng, Lvyuan Agricultural Sideline Products Import/Export Co. said "We're going to seize this opportunity to develop the production and export of agricultural goods. The trade has benefited over 10,000 farmers."

Currently, trade between China and Kazakhstan depends on oil and natural gas. To optimize the trade structure, the two countries signed a cooperation plan for non-resource sectors in 2007. China will build a cooperative trade zone in Kazakhstan, similar to Baktu.

Li Shiyu, Secretary of Tacheng City of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region said "If both the external and internal markets are set up, we'll have a complementary trade platform here. We also plan to launch a 'green transportation line' in the future."

Both China and Kazakhstan are hoping the cooperative zones will serve as a trade platform that deepens bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and cultural sectors as well.

 

Editor:Xiong Qu