The China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone is the first pilot FTZ in China’s northwestern border region, covering Urumqi, Kashgar and Horgos. Since the establishment of the pilot FTZ in 2023, MOFCOM and relevant ministries have actively supported Xinjiang in implementing the strategy of upgrading the pilot FTZ, injecting new impetus into promoting opening up on the west.

In promoting innovative development of trade, the pilot FTZ has actively expanded access for high-quality resources from China’s neighboring countries. The green channel of rapid customs clearance of agricultural and sideline products is opened at the border ports between China and Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, cutting the customs declaration time for agricultural exports from five days to just one day. In building an open industrial system with Xinjiang characteristics, the pilot FTZ has accelerated the development of refinery, chemical, textile and garment industries, and worked to build pioneering areas of new energy, new materials and other strategic emerging industries. A national cotton and textile trading center was established in Urumqi. In a bid to build Xinjiang into a transportation hub connecting China and Eurasia, the pilot FTZ has made every effort to foster national logistics hubs by land and by air. The expansion project of the China-Europe Railway Express assembly center and the multi-modal transport customs supervision center have been put into operation.

Going forward, we will work with Xinjiang to further implement the strategy of upgrading the pilot free trade zone and promote high-level opening up. First, we will promote the implementation of pilot measures benchmarked against high international standards and rules and improve the level of institutional opening up. We will help business entities to enjoy policy dividends, and ensure the implementation of pilot measures for replication and promotion. Second, we will continue to deepen opening up on the west and set a good example for high-quality development along the border. We will promote industrial exchanges and cooperation between the pilot FTZ and the central and eastern regions of China, support the pilot FTZ in focusing on key industries, and carry out integrated innovation across the whole industrial chain. Thank you.