URUMQI, April 20 (Xinhua) -- A comprehensive bonded zone was opened in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's border city of Kashgar on Monday.

The zone was approved by the State Council in September and passed joint assessment led by the General Administration of Customs in January.

Covering a plot of 3.56 square km, the bonded zone enjoys geographic advantages for trade thanks to its proximity to Kashgar International Airport and busy highways, as well as the China-Pakistan and China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railways currently being planned.

Several areas have been set up to provide bonded warehousing, logistics and manufacturing. In addition, support services such as custom clearance, airfreight and exhibition halls are also available.

The bonded area has finalized investment agreements with 26 logistics and manufacturing companies, which have a combined registered capital of 400 million yuan (64 million U.S. dollars) and is expected to create 500 jobs.

Bordering on five Central Asian countries including Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and India, Kashgar boasts five national ports.

Xinjiang established its first bonded zone at the Alataw Pass, the country's largest land port, in the region's northwestern Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Bortala in 2011.