Green Corridor launched on Kazakh-Chinese border

The opening ceremony of "green corridor" was participated by the Kazakh delegation comprising Deputy Chairman of the Customs Control Committee of the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan Igor Ten and Deputy Akim of East Kazakhstan region Nurymbet Saktaganov.

In the opening speech Mr.Ten reported that China had long been a major trading partner of Kazakhstan. "This year the share of goods imported from China in the total turnover of Kazakhstan makes 27%. Our Heads of State tasked to increase turnover in 2015 to 40 billion dollars", he informed.

"Green Corridor", which we have opened today, is one of the important steps to fulfill this task. It is designed for rapid passage of fruits and vegetables.

According to Kazakhstan's Customs within 11 months of the current year the volume of imports of fruits and vegetables transported from China to Kazakhstan through the customs post "Bakhty" amounted to 42.39 million dollars. 2216 vehicles crossed the border of Kazakhstan with fruits and vegetables weighing about 40,000 tons.

According to the oblast administration, trade between East Kazakhstan and Xinjiang totaled $ 560 million, of which $380 million come from exports and $180 million from imports.

The representative of the General Administration of Customs of China Huang Shentsyan said that "green corridor" at checkpoints "Pokitu" - "Bakhty" was the first corridor that China jointly opened with neighboring countries.

Deputy Chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Shi Dagang said that for 11 months the trade between Xinjiang and Kazakhstan had exceeded $ 11 billion, representing 47% of total imports and exports of Xinjiang over the same period.

Xinjiang government spokesman said that on the Kazakh-Chinese border there were 5 checkpoints.

Customs post named "Bakhty" is located in the area of ​​Urjar in East Kazakhstan region and is distant from the regional center - Ust-Kamenogorsk - by 600 kilometers.

Checkpoint named "Pokitu " is Chuguchak District of Ili-Kazakh Autonomous Region of Xinjiang and is one of the oldest customs posts in Xinjiang - it has a 250-year history. In the authorities' plans there is a point of increasing the capacity of Xinjiang from the current 2 million tons to 10 million tons per year by 2015.

Official opening of the "green corridor" along the Kazakh-Chinese border is experimental, and in this mode it will be valid for one month.