BEIJING (China Daily) – Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang attented this Friday the launching ceremony of a trans-national free trade centre on the border of China and Kazakhstan in Horgos of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang and Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Aset Isekeshev attend the launching ceremony of a trans-national free trade center on the border of China and Kazakhstan in Horgos, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 2, 2011. Besides the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center, the event also celebrated the joining of a China-Kazakhstan railway.
(Photo: Xinhua/Zhao Ge)

Besides the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Centre, the event also celebrated the joining together of a China-Kazakhstan railway.

The trade centre, spanning the China-Kazakhstan border river near the village of Horgos, covers 3.43 km² of land on the Chinese side and 1.85 km² on the Kazakh side.

Under an agreement signed between China and Kazakhstan in September 2004, the Horgos centre will be developed into a “free port” with free trade and investment opportunities. The centre will also serve functions related to processing, manufacturing, trade, merchandise procurement, financial services, tourism and entertainment.