Construction of new economic zone starts in W China

 Construction of new economic zone starts in W China

YINCHUAN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The construction of a new economic pilot zone, the first of its kind in China's inland areas, has started in the country's northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous¹ Region.

At the inaugural² meeting held on Friday, the construction of a comprehensive bonded³ area in the regional capital of Yinchuan was also announced.

The pilot zone and the four-square-km bonded area in the zone aim to deepen the opening up of China's western inland areas to countries located directly west of China, especially in order to boost trade, investment and friendly exchanges between China and the Arab world, said Wang Zhengwei, chairman of the regional government.

According to the establishment program approved by the State Council in September, projects in the zone will enjoy 66 preferential policies in investment, tax, finance and land use after its establishment.

The League of Arab States has become China's seventh-largest trade partner. Trade between China and the member countries surged 34.7 percent to 195.9 billion U.S. dollars last year.

Ningxia is the only provincial-level autonomous region for the Hui people, the largest Muslim ethnic⁴ group in China. About 30 percent of the region's population is Hui.

As many people in the area share religious beliefs and customs with Muslims living in Arab countries, the region is a perfect platform for boosting cooperation with those countries, according to Wang.

1 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

2 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

3 bonded   

n.有担保的，保税的，粘合的

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee.威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• This adhesive must be applied to both surfaces which are to be bonded together.要粘接的两个面都必须涂上这种黏合剂。

4 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。