The Dulart Port is located in Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. Across the border is the Chongza area, Almaty Oblast, Kazakhstan. The corresponding port in Kazakhstan is Kolzhat, about 150 kilometers from Chongza. In August 1992, the two governments agreed to open the Dulart Port and in March 1994, the State Council approved it as an international port. It handles 200,000 tons of cargo and 150,000 passengers each year.
The Frontier People's Reciprocal Trade Fair officially began operating on September 26, 1999, with approval from the General Administration of Customs and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region government. The trade fair is situated on the border of Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, 50 kilometers from the county seat, 63 kilometers from Yining City and 250 kilometers from Almaty. Only 3.8 kilometers from the Kelzhat Port, it is 100 kilometers closer to Almaty than other ports. The trade fair covers 11,900 square meters, with warehouse, parking area and inspection facilities. In 2002, 6,200 passengers, 3,100 vehicles and 24,000 tons of commodities passed through the port.
(China.org.cn December 15, 2004)
