Markets and businesses are gradually returning to normal in Urumqi following the July 5th riots. Meanwhile, authorities say foreign direct investment in the Autonomous Region increased during the first half of this year.

French super market Carrefour reopened on Thursday. Residents in Urmuqi are busy buying up products here.

Carrefour's Managing director of China's northwest region says its first shop opened six years ago, and that within the next two years the company will have a total of 5 stores in the region.

Japanese auto giant Toyota has also expressed its confidence in the city. The company's sales department says the living standard of residents in Urumqi is increasing and its prospects for the future are great.

Liu Bin, vice managing director of Toyota Sales Department, said, "As for the overall rate of investment rebound, we gained 20 percent last year. It was the best in our group."

Foreign-invested enterprises are sure of Urumqi's market potential. The central government's reform policies have also helped them settle down in the city within the shortest period of time.

Long Feng, a commerce official, said, "It used to take us 5 days to approve a contract for a foreign-invested enterprise. Now, it takes just one day."

Statistics from the city's Bureau of Commerce show that foreign direct investment totaled more than 60 million US dollars in the last 6 months, rising 4 percent year-on-year.

(CCTV July 24, 2009)