The gross domestic product (GDP) of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was expected to increase by 10 percent this year, said Ismayil Tiliwaldi, chairman of the autonomous regional government, on Monday.

Despite the impacts of SARS and natural disasters, Xinjiang had overfulfilled all targets set at the beginning of the year, said Ismayil.

Xinjiang's GDP would amount to 185 billion yuan (US$22.4 billion) this year, up 10.8 per cent from last year, according to him. The growth rate of industry was 8.2 per cent, agriculture 12.3 per cent and the tertiary industry 10.3 per cent.

This showed Xinjiang's economic development was speeding up, said the chairman.

According to Ismayil, the total volume of the region's import and export would reach US$4.5 billion this year, with the export growth rate being 68.2 per cent and import 65.5 per cent.

Overseas enterprises had invested a total of 20 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion) in Xinjiang this year, 5.3 times the figure for last year.

People's living standards had been improved. According to Ismayil, the annual income of urban citizens would amount to 7,180 yuan (US$868), up 3.5 percent from 2002; while that for rural residents would exceed 2,000 yuan (US$242), 180 yuan (US$21.8) more than last year.

The region's investment in Science and technology, education, culture, health care and sports also increased.

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