Investment outflows from China's coal-rich Northwest Shaanxi province will benefit from closer ties with African countries and Russia, said provincial governor Zhao Zhengyong at the Fifth Session of the 11th National People's Congress on Wednesday.

"Some African countries seek cooperation with us," Zhao said.

The province has close connections with Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, said Feng Junping, chairman of the Provincial Federation of Industry.

"There are more than 100,000 people of Shaanxi origin living in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan," Feng said.

Vladimir Putin, Russia's first three-term president after a landslide victory on Monday, has paid state visits to Xi'an, the capital city of Shaanxi province. Analysts said his visits revealed his interests in China's plans to develop its western region.

"If Mr. Putin would visit Shaanxi again, I would try to enhance ties between China's western provinces and Russian states," Governor Zhao said.

To boost overseas investments, the province has set up an investment company to pursue foreign cooperation and takeovers, Zhao said.

The coal-rich province is home to many big State-owned energy and coal companies.

The province, in the center of China's railway network, has also built a tariff-free zone at its dry port in Xi'an city to boost foreign trade and investments.

The province's total overseas investment stands at $1.1 billion. In 2011 alone, investment outflows from the province totaled $300 million, according to the provincial government.