Big future for returned island

HARBIN: Half of Heixiazi island, which was returned to China on Oct 15, could be developed as a tourist resort, an official from Fuyuan county, Heilongjiang province, said yesterday.

Yu Wenli, head of the Fuyuan tourism bureau, said the return marked the end of a 79-year dispute over the island between Russia and China, and offers new opportunities for Fuyuan, which borders the island.

"When we negotiated with travel agencies before the island's return, they were not too enthusiastic.