China has approved the establishment of a bonded area in southwestern Chongqing Municipality in an effort to boost the opening and development of central and western regions.

Chongqing Vice Mayor Huang Qifan said yesterday at a press conference here that the first inland bonded area had been approved by the State Council, or the Cabinet.

The 8.37-sq km Cuntan Bonded Area centers both the Cuntan Harbor and the Jiangbei International Airport. The bonded area will be completed in 2015.

"The Cuntan Bonded Area will be built into a multi-functional area with most advanced logistics and preferential policies," Huang said. "It will also become an accelerator for the opening upof central and eastern inland cities."

The Chongqing Bonded Area Development Company and the area's administration commission will start operation on Thursday. Huang did not reveal the investment for the bonded area or its operation time.

Bao Zichuan, chairman of the company, said the bonded area will focus on harbor business, air transport, foreign trade, export-oriented processing and commodity displays.

Enterprises in the bonded area will enjoy such preferential policies as tax rebates for exports and free tax for trading within the area.

So far, China has established ten such free trade zones in the coastal areas from north to south.