Construction of a Sino-Kazakstan international trade center kicked off Friday in the Korgas Port, the biggest land port in west?China, signaling a new era for bilateral trade between China and Kazakstan, according to an official with the Korgas Port.

 

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Jia Yisheng, an official with the port, said that Sino-Kazakstan international border trade center, with a first phase investment of 40 million yuan (about US$5 million),?is expected to cover 25,000 square meters of floor space, cater more than 300 vendors, and serve as the first-stage project of Korgas Port Central Business District (CBD).

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The trade center will also serve as an entertainment center and aims to absorb visitors and establish a reputation with its complete and systematic services including shopping, entertainment, and accommodations.

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Korgas international trade center was initiated on Sept. 24, 2004, in an agreement signed between the governments of China and Kazakstan, which states that a free port city is to be set up at their borders with functions of investment, trade, financial service and tourism.

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Jia said that Kazakstan has remained the largest border trade partner of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for a continuous 12 years.?Korgas is China's largest land port to countries of Central Asia and Europe.

 

 

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 6, 2005)