Inner Mongolia works for northward opening up

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2014-07-22

Adjoining with Zamyn-Uud in the Republic of Mongolia, the city of Erenhot is the biggest road and rail port connecting with Mongolia. As laid out in the development strategy "8337", the Inner Mongolia autonomous region aims to develop itself into a significant bridgehead opening to the north and a flourishing border economic zone.

Erenhot obviously plays an important role in this development. On June 5, the State Council approved making Erenhot a key national experimental zone for development and opening-up. Accordingly, the city has dedicated itself to the construction of an international trade logistics base, an export-oriented processing and manufacturing base and cross-border cultural tourism base.

China-Mongolia border gate in Erenhot, Inner Mongolia.

Prosperous border port

On July 1, a Mongolian businessman was in line at Erenhot Port waiting for customs clearance with his car full of Chinese goods. He told a reporter that Chinese products such as food, plastic articles, leather, clothing and furniture are highly popular in Ulan Bator, Mongolia’s capital. And he is one of the many Mongolian businessmen to engage in purchasing large quantities of goods and then selling them wholesale back in Mongolia.

A border trade area was officially launched on April 15, which will provide more opportunities for businessmen from both countries.

This area was planned to go into service within the year. Projects include a border trade area, a logistics and distribution area, an e-commerce services platform, a cross-border comprehensive business service system and an area for a China-Mongolia port shopping and tourism services will be established.

Thanks to its foundation, the people of both countries will enjoy more preferential policies with regards to tax revenue and simplified procedures.

At present, Erenhot port is equipped with a sound service functions system. The railway terminal is capable of handling 10 million tons of cargo annually, while the road port can handle a throughput of 5 million tons of cargo and 3 million passengers per year.

The road port is open every day. Some of the railway services are even open around the clock. Moreover, Erenhot port has been set up a “green channel” for agricultural products, such as fruit and vegetables, grain and oils.

Erenhot is advantageous geographically, since it is adjacent to the Mongolian areas with a developed economy and abundant resources. It is also close to the political and economic center of eastern Siberia in Russia.

Erenhot has been endeavoring to be a model port for the opening-up to Mongolia. Meanwhile, it is also strengthening cooperation with eastern Siberia and has become a backbone in communications and exchanges with Russia for the autonomous region and the nation as a whole.

Moreover, Erenhot is striving towards better communications and a wide range of international economic and trade cooperation with European countries in the future, and into a pivotal city in the Silk Road economic zone.