Business booms at Khorgos port in Xinjiang

Located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Khorgos is one of the most important land ports in northwest China as the region borders five central Asian countries. Three years ago, the Chinese government decided to upgrade the port to a special economic zone to boost its development. And since then, the area has gone through major changes. CCTV reporter Wu Lei spoke to some local businesses and has this report.

Palidan has been doing small businesses at Khorgos for almost 20 years. Nowadays, she mainly imports Turkish carpets and sells them to tourists. Retailers like Palidan are always the first to feel the changes from new economic policies.

Palidan, carpet retailer of Khorgos port, said, "There are lots of changes. For example we have enjoyed more favorable policies, especially the free tax policy on small business retailers like us. We really benefited from it."

According to Palidan, many retailers like her can earn more than 100,000 yuan per year. Especially in the hot tourist season, thousands of tourists from home and abroad visit here every day.

Some big companies though have more options. Ji Yaoshan has been in logistics for years, transporting all kinds of goods to central Asian countries and even Europe. But now fruit and vegetable trading makes up 70% of his business; a figure unimaginable just 3 years ago.

"Actually fruit and vegetable trading has created a new market here in Khorgos. Chinese businessmen transport the fresh produce here and buyers cross the border to purchase them. So the new cross border trading has flourished at the port," Ji Yaoshan, General Manager of Xinjiang Jingtian Investment Group, said.

In order to provide better services, local authorities have speeded up the construction of infrastructure.

Since 2010, Suzhou city in East China's Jiangsu province has been assigned to boost the development of Khorgos. Yu Jinsong's company was one of those companies in Suzhou that came over as a result. They wish to bring something more than investment.

"Through this project, we want to bring some advanced development ideas and industries including manufacturing and trading. All of them will play an important role in advancing the local economy," he said.

Khorgos is expected to become a major trading and transport hub. With increased policy support, other sectors like banking and manufacturing will bring more opportunities.

Businessmen like Ji Yaoshan and other companies are all looking to expand their businesses on a larger platform.

Wu Lei said, "Over the past 3 years, many businesses here have benefited from favorable policies and the special economic zone. Help has also brought more investment and advanced development ideas. Because people here need not only wealth, but also the means to make money. "