A delegation of foreign diplomats in China on Thursday visited Shihezi city in northwest China' s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, voicing their appreciation to the development model of the city.

Shihezi city, some 150 km northwest of Urumqi, is a young city which was established in the 1950s in the gobi of Xinjiang. With the development of some 60 years, the city has become one of the most developed cities in the autonomous region.

Diplomats visit a workshop of a textile company in Shihezi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 13, 2009. [Xinhua]

In the early phase of the city' s development, Shihezi focused on reclaiming land in the desert for agriculture. Meanwhile, the city began to establish its industry system and high-tech in recent years in order to reach a comprehensive development.

Mohamed Abd El Aziz, general manager of Xinjiang Alzeeh Textile Co. Ltd, a Saudi-invested private company, said that the local government has launched a series of preferable measures to attract investments.

After visiting the workshop of the textile company, which has an investment of 50 million U.S. dollars and covers an area of 200,000 square meters, Kuwaiti ambassador Faisal Rashed J. Al-Ghais said he has the plan to introduce Kuwaiti companies to invest here to boost bilateral cooperation of the two sides.

At present, textile products of the company are exported to European and Asian markets.

Besides industry development, the city has also paid much attention to the development of agricultural technology, particularly the irrigation system in the water-shortage area.

Bangladeshi Ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmad takes photoes for peaches at a modern agricultural garden in Shihezi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 13, 2009. [Xinhua]

The diplomats also visited Xinjiang Tianye Group Co. Ltd, a leading company of water-saving technology and recycle economy based in Shihezi.

Syrian ambassador Khalaf Al-Jarad said there is no waste and pollution by introducing the technology of the company, which realizes the aim of fully making use of resources.

Kuwaiti ambassador Faisal Rashed J. Al-Ghais said it' s a good method to develop this kind of technology in the area and set a good example for other countries and regions in water-shortage areas to develop agriculture and recycle economy.

Togolese ambassador to China Nolama Ta Ama, also head of the diplomatic delegation, voiced his appreciation to the achievements of the reclamation projects in Shihezi.

Diplomats watch a sand table of Xinjiang Tianye Co., Ltd in Shihezi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 13, 2009. Diplomats from 26 countries and regions to China began a five-day visit to Xinjiang on Monday, a month after the deadly riot in the regional capital of Urumqi which left 197 people dead and more than 1,600 others injured. [Xinhua]

"We appreciate your efforts of reclamation to build such a beautiful and livable city in the desert," said Ama, adding that the people here live harmoniously with each other and with the nature.

The foreign diplomats, who will leave for Beijing on Friday, also visited a museum on Xinjiang' s reclamation and Shihezi University in the city.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2009)