Published by: THE WORLD UYGHUR NETWORK NEWS 13 September 1997

Beijing Xinhua 0704 GMT 09 Sep 97

Urumqi, September 9 (XINHUA) -- China plans to open a new port of entry on the Sino-Kazakhstan border in order to facilitate trade. The Category-one national port of entry, located in the Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is scheduled to open in October. The port, located some 250 km. from Almaty, capital of Kazakhstan, offers convenient access to countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as to Pakistan and

Afghanistan. Local officials note the port will facilitate the transportation of grain and coal from Qapqal to Kazakhstan.