Xinjiang plays a vital role in country's opening-up

Xinjiang plays a vital role in China's opening-up, said Xing Guangcheng, a deputy to the 14th NPC, and head of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies.

Directly borders eight out of the 14 countries that China shares land borders with, Xinjiang's significance cannot be overstated. Covering a vast area of 1.66 million square kilometers, it stands as the largest provincial-level region in the country and serves as a crucial gateway for establishing economic ties with regions such as Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and Europe.

The growth of Xinjiang's foreign trade volume is a testament to its increasing importance on the global stage. With the total trade volume exceeding 400 billion yuan in 2024, Xinjiang's comprehensive opening-up efforts are bearing fruit. It ranked third nationwide in terms of foreign trade growth rate last year.

Beyond trade, Xinjiang's allure extends to tourism, with over 300 million visitors in 2024. This influx of tourists, both domestic and international, underscores Xinjiang's openness and confidence in sharing its rich cultural heritage with the world.