By Zhang Yanshun, staff reporter, "Manzhouli Preparing Six Border Trade Zones" [Beijing China Daily in English, 18 Aug 92 p 2.]

China's largest land port in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is planning to establish six development zones in the coming few years to promote Sino-Russian border trade and economic cooperation.

A total of 820 million yuan ($149.1 million) will be invested in the construction of a Sino-Russian economic cooperation zone, a barter trade zone, a comprehensive commerce and trade zone, an energy resource development zone, an export-oriented agricultural development zone and a tourism zone.

Zhou Guobao, President of the Manzhouli Branch of the People's Construction Bank of China, said yesterday that his sub-branch has lent 60 million yuan ($10.91 million) for the development program.

More funds will be raised, through attracting more deposits and other channels, to expedite the development scheme, Zhou affirmed. The branch is responsible for managing state investment in key capital construction projects and providing loans in the border city.

The Sino-Russian economic cooperation zone, with a planned development area of 5.6 square kilometers, is designed to develop light industry, textiles, food, building materials and other processing industries. Their products are targeted for export to Russia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as East Europe, Zhou said.

Currently, the 200,000-square meter Sino-Russian barter trade zone on the Chinese side of the Sino-Russian border is under construction and is scheduled to open for business by the end of this year, Zhou said.

Chinese, Russians and people from other countries and regions may then barter goods or services inside the zone. Currencies of renminbi yuan, roubles and U.S. dollars will also be permitted to flow there.

The comprehensive commerce and trade zone will be based on the present urban area of Manzhouli City. New buildings and infrastructional facilities will be constructed, Zhou said.

The energy resource development zone in designed to initiate cooperative projects with Russian partners. In that field, proven coal reserves in the city are 10.1 billion tons, Zhou said.

The export-oriented agricultural development zone will focus on setting up agricultural and livestock commodity export bases and food processing facilities, Zhou said.