URUMQI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has sped up the construction and resumption of key projects, according to local authorities.

The Urumqi Economic and Technological Development Zone (Toutunhe District) held a commencement ceremony on Monday, marking the start of construction on 28 key projects, including an international textile and clothing trade center and an international grain and oil trading center in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang.

Zhang Junxiang, an official of the economic and technological development zone, said a total of 337 key projects are scheduled to start construction in the zone this year.

All projects in cities and prefectures across Xinjiang, covering fields of agriculture, forestry, water conservancy, housing, transportation, energy, infrastructure, logistics and ecological restoration, are expected to resume work by the end of March, according to the regional government.