Horgos Int'l Border Cooperation Center records over 5 mln crossings this year

China

Horgos Int'l Border Cooperation Center records over 5 mln crossings this year

2025-07-13 16:30 Last Updated At：22:17

The Horgos International Border Cooperation Center has reported over 5 million inbound and outbound visits this year as of Friday, marking a 73 percent year-on-year increase, according to the latest official data.

Since July, the bustling hub on the China-Kazakhstan border in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has seen a steady influx of domestic and international tourists drawn by border tours, cross-border shopping, and duty-free experiences.

Travelers begin flocking to the border inspection hall early each morning. To handle the growing volume of visitors, all 12 manual inspection channels and 10 fast-track lanes are now fully operational.

"To ensure efficient customs clearance, we've rolled out seven specific measures, including reservation-based entry, staggered customs clearance, and extended service hours. The daily inspection volume has nearly doubled compared with last year," said Wang Binghe, a worker at the Horgos Border Inspection Station.

Inside the duty-free cooperation center, a wide range of goods is on offer, from handicrafts and local delicacies to fashion and high-tech products, catering to the rising demand for duty-free shopping.

"I picked up a lot of snacks at this duty-free store upon my arrival, such as Kazakh chocolate, local souvenirs for friends, coffee, and other treats," said Ma Liya, a tourist from Gansu Province in northwest China.

Shop owners say the tourism boom has significantly boosted business.

"It's peak travel season now. We're receiving large numbers of domestic and foreign tourists every day. Our store's single-day sales can reach up to 100,000 yuan (some 13,936.7 U.S. dollars)," said Lin Zixuan, a merchant at the center.

Currently, more than 2,000 businesses operate in the Chinese section of the cooperation center, including over 200 duty-free enterprises selling thousands of products from more than 40 countries.

OPEC forecasts 23 pct rise in global energy demand by 2050

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) released its latest World Oil Outlook 2050 on Sunday, projecting a 23-percent increase in global energy demand by mid-century.

The report emphasizes that meeting this rising demand and tackling associated challenges will require a comprehensive approach leveraging all forms of energy, advanced technologies, and broad social engagement.

According to the outlook, oil will remain the largest single source of energy through 2050, accounting for just under 30 percent of the global energy mix. Combined, oil and natural gas are expected to sustain a majority share of the world's energy consumption, representing more than half of the total between 2024 and 2050.

The report highlights a stark regional divide in energy trends as nearly all of the projected growth in energy demand will come from developing countries. In contrast, energy consumption in developed nations is expected to remain flat or decline over the same period.