Western China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will become the largest oil production area in the country by 2010.

Chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Ismail Tiliwaldi says the region will have a likely crude oil output of 50 million tons with increased investments for oil and natural gas resources by 2010.

The chairman also noted that last year, Xinjiang's petroleum output exceeded 22 million tons, taking third place in the country.

(CRI May 22, 2005)