The import and export volume of Xinjiang's border trade exceeded for the first time one billion U.S. dollars in 1999, accounting for 58 percent of the region's total foreign trade.

The total border trade of Xinjiang Urgur Autonomous Region showed an average monthly growth rate of 79 percent last year to reach 1.02 billion dollars, according to the region's border administrative bureau recently.

Xinjiang, which borders eight countries, is now one of the largest border-trade zone in China. It exports mainly food, textiles, clothing, shoes and oil to neighboring countries, including Russia and Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan was Xinjiang's largest trade partner in 1999, with atwo-way trade volume of 930 million dollars.