Xinjiang imports soar in 2017

URUMQI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Imports to northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region surpassed 2.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, up more than 42 percent year on year.

The region's foreign trade grew by 17 percent from 2016 to 20.7 billion U.S. dollars last year, including exports worth 17.7 billion U.S. dollars, according to Urumqi customs.

Xinjiang mainly exports mechanical and electrical products, textiles and shoes, while importing farm produce and resource products.

The region's trade with Mongolia, Pakistan and Kazakhstan along the Belt and Road recorded robust growth, increasing by 84 percent, 60 percent and 49 percent year on year respectively.

The foreign trade of Xinjiang, located at the core of the Silk Road Economic Belt, has benefited from easier customs clearance, better favorable policies and improved economies in Central Asian countries.

The Belt and Road Initiative consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. It aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.