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.

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).

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.

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.

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)