Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province, prepares for its role in the Chinese government initiative “One Belt, One Road” serving as the main logistics hub in Western China.
The city will serve as the starting point of the Silk Road Economic Belt that was proposed earlier in March.
Qiang Xiao'an, director of the city's development and reform commission, told the Global Times that "the groundwork for developing the two logistics parks is moving forward at full speed."
"The two parks will form a comprehensive trade network and will make Xi'an an important national logistic platform," Qiang added.
The Xi'an International Trade and Logistics Park will handle the land-based logistics, while the air trade will be overseen by the Airport New City. These two logistics facilities will be located at the Xixian New Area.
Qiang is hopeful that these projects will serve as an avenue for the inland city to boost its economy. Xi'an has been suffering for the past period due to relatively poor accessibility.
According to Qiang, the logistics parks' free trade zone will also help prepare the city to become the country's next free-trade area.
Apart from the two logistics facilities, the city furthermore remarked that its framework to develop the central government's initiative would cover 60 projects. Its total investment is amounting to 115 billion yuan.
These projects will include industries focusing on manufacturing, logistics as well as science and technology.
The government officials of the Shaanxi Province are also aiming to develop the Xixian New Area as soon as possible to aid in economic growth.
The planned area of 882 square kilometers is located between Xi'an and Xianyang. It will serve as home to high technology, cultural and tourism industries, and residential areas.