Xinjiang posts steady foreign trade growth in Q1

A staff member checks a freight train loaded with buses to be exported at the Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

URUMQI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region recorded 37.83 billion yuan (about 5.85 billion U.S. dollars) in foreign trade in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 34.9 percent year on year, the local customs said.

According to Urumqi customs, Xinjiang's trade with countries along the Belt and Road reached 34.91 billion yuan from January to March, up 49.8 percent year on year, while its trade with members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) rose 35.3 percent to 2.43 billion yuan during the same period.

Kyrgyzstan remained Xinjiang's largest trade partner during the period, enjoying 14.59 billion yuan in trade.

Since the beginning of this year, Xinjiang has strengthened cooperation with China's neighboring countries in various fields, helping businesses leverage the benefits of the RCEP and explore emerging markets. This has further enhanced the growth of foreign trade and stimulated high-quality development of the region's open economy.