Zhao Gang, Deputy Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee and Governor, said on the 6th that Shaanxi will leverage its industrial advantages to promote the development of an open economy. At present, Shaanxi has established economic and trade ties with nearly 200 countries and regions around the world. Over the past decade, its total imports and exports to Belt and Road countries have grown at an average annual rate of 17.5%, 5.9 percentage points higher than the national average.

　　The State Council Information Office held a press conference on the 6th on the theme of "Writing a New Chapter for Shaanxi and Striving to Be a Model for the West." At the event, a reporter asked: Shaanxi is the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and an important node of the Belt and Road Initiative. What measures will Shaanxi take in the future to expand opening-up?

　　Zhao Gang explained that Shaanxi is an inland province, and the historic opportunity of the Belt and Road Initiative has made Shaanxi a frontier for the country's westward opening. At present, Shaanxi is focusing on leveraging advantages in three areas to build itself into an inland highland of reform and opening-up.

　　**First, leverage industrial advantages to promote the development of an open economy. At present, Shaanxi has established economic and trade ties with nearly 200 countries and regions around the world. Over the past decade, its total imports and exports to Belt and Road countries have grown at an average annual rate of 17.5%, 5.9 percentage points higher than the national average. Last year, Shaanxi recorded a net increase of 513 foreign trade entities and stepped up efforts to cultivate export-oriented enterprises. Last year, heavy truck exports grew by 100%, new energy vehicle exports increased 11.5-fold, and integrated circuit exports accounted for nearly 10% of the national total.

　　Zhao Gang said that in terms of utilizing foreign investment, Shaanxi has had many highlights in recent years, with a number of internationally renowned companies settling in Shaanxi and expanding their investment. Next, Shaanxi will work harder to cultivate more export-oriented business entities, support enterprises in developing cross-border operations, continue to consolidate exports of competitive products, keep improving the foreign investment environment, and maintain the growth momentum of foreign trade and foreign investment.

　　Second, leverage locational advantages to keep open corridors flowing. Shaanxi's China-Europe freight trains to Central Asia, West Asia and Europe now operate on a regular basis, with a total of 18 routes covering the entire Eurasian continent. They offer outstanding comprehensive logistics cost advantages, with transport times about one-third of sea freight and average costs equivalent to about one-ninth of air freight.

　　Zhao Gang noted that Shaanxi has also launched a pilot program for tax rebates at land departure ports, with the rebate processing time now shortened to three days. At the same time, Shaanxi is accelerating the construction of the Xi'an China-Europe freight train assembly center, has put the Kazakhstan Xi'an Terminal into operation, and has set up 53 overseas warehouses in 23 countries and regions. China-Europe freight trains have become a "steel camel caravan" connecting the Eurasian continent. Shaanxi will also make every effort to enhance the辐射 capacity of the Xi'an assembly center for China-Europe freight trains and strive to build an international trade corridor with higher efficiency, lower costs and better services.

　　Third, leverage cultural advantages to strengthen exchanges and cooperation. Shaanxi will fully activate its historical and cultural resources and actively serve the country's overall diplomacy. Shaanxi has established friendly relations with 113 provinces, states and cities in 41 countries, including Russia and Kazakhstan. In culture, Shaanxi successfully hosted the Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Alliance Conference and the Silk Road International Film Festival. In education, Xi'an Jiaotong University initiated the establishment of the University Alliance of the Silk Road, and the Kazakhstan branch of Northwestern Polytechnical University has begun enrolling students. In archaeological excavation, Shaanxi has carried out in-depth joint archaeological work with Central Asian countries, signed cooperation agreements with 14 research institutions in eight Belt and Road countries, and achieved fruitful results in a series of archaeological excavations at ancient city sites in Central Asia.

　　Shaanxi will focus on key areas such as culture, education and tourism, continuously raise the level of international cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and contribute Shaanxi's strength to promoting people-to-people connectivity.

　　Zhao Gang said that in the second half of the year, major events such as the Silk Road International Exposition will be held in Xi'an, Shaanxi, and the China Yangling Agricultural High-Tech Achievements Expo will be held in Yangling, Shaanxi. Friends from home and abroad are welcome to attend and exhibit, seek business opportunities and achieve win-win results.