URUMQI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Imports to northwest China'sXinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region surpassed 2.9 billion U.S. dollarsin 2017, up more than 42 percent year on year.

The region's foreign trade grew by 17 percent from 2016 to 20.7billion U.S. dollars last year, including exports worth 17.7billion U.S. dollars, according to Urumqi customs.

Xinjiang mainly exports mechanical and electrical products,textiles and shoes, while importing farm produce and resourceproducts.

The region's trade with Mongolia, Pakistan and Kazakhstan alongthe Belt and Road recorded robust growth, increasing by 84 percent,60 percent and 49 percent year on year respectively.

The foreign trade of Xinjiang, located at the core of the SilkRoad Economic Belt, has benefited from easier customs clearance,better favorable policies and improved economies in Central Asiancountries.

The Belt and Road Initiative consists of the Silk Road EconomicBelt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. It aims to build atrade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe andAfrica along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.Enditem