Construction of a biological medicine-producing high-tech industrial zone has started in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Tianshan Medicine Valley, jointly financed by Urumqi High and New Technology Industrial Development Zone and Huachun Group, will join with top Chinese universities in researching and developing medicines.

Investment in the zone will total 1.39 billion yuan (US$167.88 million). Developers expect it to develop into a world-leading biological engineering zone and provide top-level infrastructure and facilities.

Statistics show that there are over 2,200 kinds of herbal, animal and mineral resources that can be applied to medicinal purposes in Xinjiang. Over 30 percent of China's commonly used medicinal herbs can be found in Xinjiang.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2002)