The 19th Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair (hereinafter referred to as Urumqi Fair) was opened in Urumqi on Sep.1, 2010. Liu Yandong, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councilor, announced in the opening ceremony that Urumqi Fair was upgraded to China-Asia-Europe Expo starting from 2011 so that further enhance China’s comprehensive cooperation with neighboring countries and build Xinjiang into an important gateway and base for China's opening-up.

Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and Nur Bekri, Chairman of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech respectively.

Nur Bekri stated in his speech that in its 18-year history Urumqi Fair had become the important trade and economic pageant in Western China as an important bridge and window for China to extend China’s open to the west and communication with other countries in the world, particularly in Central and Southeast Asia. Under the new situation, the important strategy that promoting the leaping development and lasting political stability of Xinjiang, made by the CPC Central Committee, brought a historical opportunity of greater construction, opening-up and development for Xinjiang. And Xinjiang people will provide better services to boost the pragmatic cooperation and make participant enterprises get more achievements so as to realize mutual benefits and win-win outcome.

Minister Chen said that with the development of past years, Urumqi Fair had become one of the most influential trade and economic pageants with largest scale in northwest region of China and laid a solid foundation for further development. In accordance with the arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Commerce will further enhance its supports for the commercial work of Xinjiang, actively create a great platform for Xinjiang’s open to domestic and international market, constantly improve the level of Urumqi Fair, and strive to promote the better and faster development of Xinjiang.

In the first session of China-Asia-Europe Expo Organizing Committee, Chen stated, it was the important strategy for China to upgrade Urumqi Trade Fair to China-Asia-Europe Expo so as to realize the leaping development and lasting political stability of Xinjiang. And therefore, the preparation of China-Asia-Europe Expo must highlight characteristics of Xinjiang and bring the consumption between Xinjiang and neighboring countries and regions into full play so that further promote the development of Xinjiang.

Recently, Minister Chen and his investigation group, accompanied by Huwei, Vice Chairman of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, went to Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture and Kashi to make field inspection in Torugart Port, Yierkstan Port and commercial facilities of Kashi.