Shiliuyun - Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Barsha Tieges, Correspondent Feng Qiheng) news: On the afternoon of April 17, 2023, more than 100 tourists from Kazakhstan arrived at the China side of the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center after customs clearance, which marked the full resumption of operations of the center. Citizens of China and Kazakhstan, as well as citizens from third countries, can enter and exit the center using valid documents, such as passports or entry-exit passes, and visas are not required. In this way, face-to-face business negotiations and commerce can be conducted.

Photo taken on the afternoon of April 17, 2023 shows more than 100 Kazakhstan tourists arrived at the China side of the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center after customs clearance. (Photo by Yong Chengfan)

The China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center is the first cross-border cooperation area established by China and other countries, with a total area of 5.6 square kilometers, including 3.43 square kilometers in China and 2.17 square kilometers in Kazakhstan. China and Kazakhstan have worked together to consistently enhance the center’s operations in recent years, showcasing a positive trend towards easier customs clearance, a more complete financial innovation system, a more uniform market order, and a more optimized business layout.

“We have established a joint special work team with Kazakhstan for joint construction and resource sharing. And a special joint office area has been set up in the China side, which has completely changed the mode of meeting between the two sides. In the next stage, the cooperation center will focus on attracting merchants and promote prosperous trade,” said Wang Heping, director of the management office of the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center. “We will actively make use of the location and strategic advantages of the center, provide excellent services, and strive to build the center into a demonstration zone to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative.”

In order to attract more tourists and provide better services for both domestic and foreign travelers, the management office of the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center has actively promoted the self-service application and processing of pass certificates, maintained the infrastructure, enriched the business forms of the center, and carried out diversified investment attractions. So far, enterprises involving finance, medical care and wellness, cross-border duty-free shopping have settled down in the center. Furthermore, various promotional activities have been held to speed up the recovery of business, in order to build a showcase and trade platform for Chinese manufacturers to develop the markets of the Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe.

So far, nearly 15 major projects involving commodity display, star hotels, catering and entertainment, commercial facilities, and financial services have settled in the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center, with a total investment of over 30 billion RMB yuan.

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