Trade with the five Central Asian nations bolsters Shaanxi's growth

Shaanxi province recorded a 12.3 percent increase in total import and export value in 2024, bolstered by trade with the five Central Asian nations, which surged by 48.1 percent, according to Thursday's provincial government work report.

During the third session of the 14th Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, Governor Zhao Gang highlighted the province's achievements in reform and opening-up.

The report revealed that 520 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in Shaanxi last year, a 27.5 percent increase. Additionally, Shaanxi operated 36 international warehouses across 13 countries, including Kazakhstan and the Netherlands, while the China-Europe freight trains handled 524,000 TEUs of cargo, up 21.9 percent. Goods produced in Shaanxi accounted for over 40 percent of the cargo value.

In the provincial capital, Xi'an, international flight routes increased 52, with inbound and outbound passenger traffic reaching 1.32 million, a sharp 133.3 percent rise, according to the report.

The report outlined the province's 2025 plans to deepen engagement with Central Asia, West Asia and Russia, expand overseas warehouse operations and establish major commodity trading hubs while refining investment promotion mechanisms.

Liu Boqian contributed to the story.