LHASA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- In the first quarter of this year, the total import and export value of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region reached 2.308 billion yuan (about 320.25 million U.S. dollars), a 5.9 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the customs of Lhasa, capital of the region.

The figure exceeded the national foreign trade growth rate by 4.6 percentage points, Lhasa Customs said.

Of the total, Xizang's exports totaled 1.95 billion yuan, remaining stable compared with last year, while its imports amounted to 358 million yuan, marking a 56.7 percent year-on-year increase.

This year, Xizang has fully leveraged its strategic location as a key gateway to South Asia, effectively connecting with the new western land-sea corridor, with the total volume of import and export cargo reaching 57,100 tonnes, a 27 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Customs data shows that among the many exported products, new energy vehicles and agricultural products continued solid performance. In the first quarter, 2,955 new energy vehicles were exported, an increase of 76.7 percent, while agricultural product exports reached 18,000 tonnes, growing by 10.4 percent. ■