A China-Myanmar border economic zone will be built in Cangyuan County, as one of the only two Chinese Va autonomous counties, in southwest China’s Yunnan province.

The construction will be launched in middle March this year, with a total investment of over 2 billion yuan. According to the plan, the economic zone is expected to be completed by 2015, covering civil airport, water project, the national park, power station and cultural plaza.

A local official said that the economic zone is expected to be an important part of the Gengma (in Mengding County, Lincang City) Border Economic Cooperation Zone. As an opening frontier, it has largely enhanced the development of trade, logistics, and industries.

Located in southwest Yunnan province, Cangyuan County borders with Myanmar, with a population of 170,000. Va people accounted for 80 percent of the total population. Va is an age-old and mysterious ethnic group. And the people have worked hard for more than 3000 years and have created its unique glorious culture. As one of the only two Chinese Va autonomous counties, Cangyuan County has 3000 year-old cliff painting, Nan’gunhe Nature Reserve, highly-protected original ecologies and abundant animal and plant resources. (Editor: Ryan Li)