Xinjiang's border ports resume passenger clearance

STORY: Xinjiang's border ports resume passenger clearance DATELINE: Jan. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:35 LOCATION: URUMQI, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Horgos port 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Kazakh): BAIKAS AKSHA, Tourist from Kazakhstan 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Kazakh): BELIK ZHANUZAKOV, Businessman from Kazakhstan STORYLINE: The Horgos port, a border port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, resumed passenger customs clearance on Sunday, welcoming its first inbound tourists of 2023. From Jan. 8, customs clearance has also been resumed in Irkeshtam, Karasu and Takixken, the region's three other road ports, respectively bordering Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Mongolia. SOUNDBITE 1 (Kazakh): BAIKAS AKSHA, Tourist from Kazakhstan "I am from Kazakhstan. I bought a ticket as soon as I knew Horgos resumed passenger customs clearance. After going through customs procedures, I will go to Ili to meet my friends whom I have not seen for more than three years. The customs clearance here is very fast, and