Economy
Border town bustling with business as Sino-Mongolia trade takes off
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-01 17:23
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In addition to Erenhot, other border ports in Inner Mongolia are abuzz with business as bilateral trade ties grow.
"About 700 or 800 trucks cross the border daily. Some have to wait overnight at the border due to traffic congestion," said Ren Chen, a customs official at Qeh Port, Ejin Banner (County) in western Inner Mongolia.
Qeh neighbors mineral resources-rich provinces in Mongolia and officials and entrepreneurs here expect leaders of the two countries to sign joint exploration deals, guaranteeing abundant opportunities for them.
Liu Yushan, deputy head of Ejin banner government, said annual trade volume at Qeh Port this year was expected to double and Qeh had the potential to become the largest China-Mongolia trade port in 10 years.
For Tsogt, a Monglian driver employed by a transportation company in Qeh, the expansion of bilateral trade could mean more job opportunities and better pay.
"More than 70 Mongolians are working as drivers like me. If I work the whole month, I can earn as much as 10,000 yuan ($1,460) a month," said Tsogt. "This is a very high salary in my country."
However, Meng Xiandong said infrastructure and transport facilities, particularly in Mongolia, had yet to catch up with the rapid growth of economic and trade ties.
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Meng said China should consider helping Mongolia improve its infrastructure.
According to China's Foreign Ministry, one of major focuses during Wen's visit to Mongolia will be "closer cooperation in economy and trade, especially in the development of mineral resources, infrastructure and financial services, for the expansion of common interests."
Meng said Erenhot had begun to draft plans to build more roads, markets and hotels to accommodate the influx of business people from both sides.
"We expect a better future because the huge potential has yet been tapped," he said.