Yinchuan City, capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, landed investments totaling 30.8 billion yuan (US$4.9 billion) in 2011, breaking the 30 billion yuan mark for the first time, according to the municipal Economic and Technical Cooperation Department.

Investments were mainly centered on industrial development, agriculture and the service industry.

Last year, the city dispatched more than 600 representatives to seek business opportunities with other regions and invited 2,500 investors to visit Yinchuan. The move has played an important role in securing contracts for a number of projects.

This year, Yinchuan plans to attract more investment from its neighboring regions and three remote regions: the Yangtze River Delta region, the Pearl River Delta region and the Bohai Bay Rim region.

The city will also broaden exchanges with the Middle East and Central Asia in a bid to establish itself as a regional hub for halal food and Muslim products for Arab states.