The Urumqi Commerce and Trade City, approved by the regional government in 1998, receives support from Xinjiang Commercial and Trade City. The port has over 2,000 square meters of customs holding and supervision area. Each year, it sends 600-800 vehicles to neighboring countries, transporting 16,000-20,000 tons of goods worth more than 200 million yuan (US$24 million). The Urumqi Commerce and Trade City is a comprehensive wholesale market dealing mainly in daily commodities, sold to both Chinese and foreign customers.

(China.org.cn December 15, 2004)