Xinjiang foreign trade volume grows in 2012

URUMQI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Foreign trade of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region grew 10.3 percent year on year in 2012, reaching 25.17 billion U.S. dollars, amid an economic slowdown home and abroad.

Statistics released by Urumqi Customs showed that Xinjiang exported 19.34 billion U.S. dollars worth of goods in 2012, up 15 percent from a year earlier. It imported 5.82 billion U.S. dollars worth of goods, dropping 2.8 percent year on year.

The top three exported goods were garments, electromechanical equipment and shoes.

Kazakstan remained Xinjiang's largest trading partner in 2012, with foreign trade volume increasing to 11.17 billion U.S. dollars, up 5.4 percent from a year earlier.

Xinjiang's trade with the United States increased to 1 billion U.S. dollars, according to the data.

Xinjiang saw more foreign trade companies enter the region in 2012.

Since 2010, China has been pushing for greater opening-up of the resources-rich region to transform it into an economic hub from a relatively underdeveloped desert area.