Foreign trade in China's ethnic regions hits US$60.75 bln in 2008

Aug. 21, 2009 (China Knowledge) - China's ethnic regions saw foreign trade reach US$60.75 billion in 2008, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 37%, according to figures released by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission on Wednesday.

The growth rate is larger than the national average level, said Le Changhong, director of the Economic Development Department of the SEAC.

After 30 years of reform and opening up, China has given approval to 13 borderline cities to enjoy preferential policies to promote cross-border trade.

The ethnic region's gross domestic product increased to RMB 3.06 trillion in 2008 from RMB 32.4 billion 30 years ago. Last year, the per capita disposable income for urban residents in ethnic regions climbed to RMB 13,166 from RMB 414 in 1980, while the per capita disposable income for rural residents rose to RMB 3,391 from RMB 168.

There are 135 county-level administrative regions neighboring other countries along China's 22,000-km borderline, of which 107 regions are categorized as ethnic regions.