China plans to invest 2.3 billion yuan (US$294 million) to upgrade highways linking border trading areas in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, west China, in the coming five years to facilitate booming trade with neighboring countries.

The central government and the regional government of Xinjiang will jointly fund the upgrading of 802 kilometers of highways linking the region with neighboring countries such as Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Xinjiang has a border that extends for 5,600 kilometers and has opened 15 customs posts and 101 highways for passenger and cargo transportation between the region and neighboring countries.

China's trade with central Asian countries has boomed in recent years. China-Kazakhstan trade volume hit US$6 billion in 2005 alone.

In the first three quarters of 2006, China-Russia trade volume hit US$24.64 billion, up 18.8 percent. The year-long trade volume is expected to hit a record high of US$36 billion.

Statistics from China's General Administration of Customs show that trade volume between China and Mongolia from January to September 2006 hit US$1.13 billion.

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2007)