Jeminay Port in Altay, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has witnessed a significant rise in both passenger traffic and trade activities since resuming passenger inspections in July of the previous year. As of late August, over 100,000 people have passed through the port, according to an immigration officer.
Chang Zhengxiao, a border control officer at the port, reported that daily passenger numbers have jumped from an average of 170 during the early reopening phase to 500 in August, marking a 194 percent increase year-on-year. The surge in traffic is partly attributed to a 30-day visa-free policy between China and Kazakhstan, introduced in November of the previous year.
“This policy has greatly boosted tourism to Kazakhstan through our port,” Chang said. She noted that on the busiest days, passenger numbers have exceeded 700.
Jeminay Port, a historic trade hub with over a century of history, serves as a crucial international gateway for western China, linking with Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia. Chang highlighted the port’s strategic significance: “It provides direct access to Kazakhstan and is the closest land port in China to Russia and Mongolia.”
An anonymous resident of Altay, who returned from Kazakhstan through the port in late August, shared his experience. The restaurant owner had traveled to Kazakhstan to gain insights into managing a hotpot restaurant. He praised the visa-free policy for making his travel easier, noting that the bus journey to Kazakhstan takes only one day.
The port’s strategic location facilitates not only passenger travel but also significant trade. It is qualified for importing oil and gas, animal feed, fresh and frozen aquatic products, and exporting fruits and vegetables. In 2017, Jeminay county was designated as Xinjiang’s first national agricultural open-up and cooperation pilot zone by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Wang Zhifu, deputy director of the pilot zone, explained that the zone supports the export of Chinese fruits, vegetables, and advanced agricultural equipment to Kazakhstan. Additionally, it imports goods such as frozen aquatic products and sunflower oilseed.
“A batch of king crabs is expected to enter China through the port by the end of September and will be transported to inland areas,” Wang said.
Trade figures for the port show a substantial increase in activity. Last year, 210,700 tons of goods were traded via highway, representing an 86 percent increase from the previous year. Among the 3,700 tons of imports, about 970 tons were aquatic products, the highest in Xinjiang. Exports totaled 207,000 tons, up 84.8 percent from the previous year, including a record 19,827 domestically-made vehicles, such as new energy cars.