Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region produced 3,081 kilograms of gold in the first half, a 30.9 percent rise from the same period last year.

A regional gold administrative bureau official attributed the increased output to new gold-producing ventures in the area and the application of new exploiting technologies.

Boasting the biggest landmass in the country, Xinjiang is rich in both oil and gold resources. It has 28 metallogenic belts where gold ore is found in more than 600 venues. The estimated gold resources are placed at 207.48 tons.

The remote region has seen a rise in gold exploration and development investment over the past few years.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2008)