The autonomous region of Xinjiang Uygur in northwest China is becoming an essential part of investments in China for other Asian and European countries, said officials at the second annual China-Eurasia Expo.

“Linking China to Asian and European countries, Xinjiang has become one of the most popular investing destinations for investors from other countries,” said Erkin Imirbakhi, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Xinjiang Regional People’s Congress, at the expo’s 2012 Eurasian Investment Promotion Agencies Roundtable.

“Thanks to its geographic advantage and rich reserve of resources, Xinjiang has tremendous business opportunities that attract investors worldwide,” he said.

Foreign investment in Xinjiang has already topped $3 billion with no end in sight as 500 additional foreign investors are currently looking to get a toehold in the region. At the moment the investments are growing rapidly and they are mostly made up of energy, mining and manufacturing industries.