Tibet's foreign trade leaps 49 pct in first nine months

The total value of Tibet's imports and exports reached 200 million U.S. dollars in the first nine months this year, a year-on-year increase of 49 percent, according to the autonomous regional government.

Exports hit 143 million U.S. dollars from January to September, up 32.6 percent on the same period last year, while imports reached 57 million U.S. dollars, up 116 percent.

"The Qinghai-Tibet railway and the reopening of trading markets on the China-India border were key factors for the boom," said an official from the regional government.

Imports and exports via the Renqinggang border market in Tibet have reached 1.49 million yuan (186,000 U.S. dollars) since it opened in early July this year.

On July 6, China and India reopened border trade through the Nathu La Pass, 44 years after a border conflict closed down the ancient "Silk Road". China opened a trade mart at Renqinggang, some 16 kilometers from Nathu La Pass, and India opened Changgu mart in neighbouring Sikkim.

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which began operation on July 1, ended the history of no railways in Tibet and has created opportunities for regional development.

Source: Xinhua