ALMATY -- Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, in Northwest China, is planning to increase trade with Kazakhstan by 18 percent this year, a senior official said Wednesday.

"As the economic relations between Kazakhstan and Xinjiang improve, the sales turnover will expand 18 percent in 2012," Meergul Tursun, head of the Xingjiang Commerce Department's border trade section, said.

According to Tursun, sales turnover between Xinjiang and Kazakhstan last year was $10.987 million, up 13.4 percent on the previous year.

The Kazakh Senate said earlier turnover between Kazakhstan and China had topped $20 billion in 2011.

Tursun said the 10th exhibition of China-made goods, aimed at improving trade and economic relations between the two countries, will take place in Almaty in May.