URUMQI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Kokdala, a new city built and administered by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) was formally opened on Sunday in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Approved by the State Council on March 18, the county-level city is the eighth urban center built since the XPCC was established 61 years ago. The other seven cities or towns are Shihezi, Wujiaqu, Alaer, Tumushuke, Beitun, Tiemenguan and Shuanghe.

Kokdala covers a land area of 980 square km in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture and has a population of about 80,000. It is home to the country's largest lavender planting base.

XPCC Commander Liu Xinqi said the new city will play an important role in the transition of the corps to garrison China's western border regions from cultivation to industrialization.

The XPCC maintains military structural titles such as divisions and regiments, and has its own administrative and judicial bodies. It now has more than 4,000 enterprises and a total population of more than 2.45 million.