People’s China: Xinjiang today

The Grand Bazaar inÜrümqi, the capital of Xinjiang 

by John Maryon

 An important area of China's far west situated between Tibet, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, India and Tajikistan is known as the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. It is home to the Uygur people and also others including Han Chinese, Kazakhs, Hui and Kyrgyz.  It's capital is called Urumqi, meaning beautiful pasture. The region has been described as a remote wilderness, with two magnificent mountain ranges, the vast Taklamakan desert, two major river basins and the Pamir Plateau with its breathtaking scenery.  This region of great diversity accounts for one sixth of China's land territory. 
The region has a total population of 25. 8 million. The Uygur ethnic population the largest with 11.6 million followed by the Han with 10.9 million.  The recently passed 'Ethnic Unity and Progress law' requires government, at all levels, to co-ordinate economic and social development planning and resource allocation to facilitate the development of embedded communities. Its aim is to create environments in which people of diverse ethnic backgrounds can work  share resources and live in harmony together. This philosophy, taken with the elimination of poverty, will encourage the seeds of unity to flourish.  The dark days when Western intelligence agencies were able to support terrorists are a thing of the past.  It is in the vibrant public plazas that one can witness the civic integration of of a successful multi-cultural society. 
The Uygurs are descended from the ancient Ouigour people who occupied the region during the Sui and Tang dynasties from 581AD.  At various times they were under the rule of the Turkic powers hence the modern language has Turkic roots.  Xinjiang's initial role in world history stems from its location which forms a commercial corridor linking China with Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.  The ancient Silk Routes converged and passed through this vast region of region mountains, deserts and grasslands. The oases in the area became important trade hubs where merchants exchanged silk, spices, gold and silver. 
Today a New Silk Road forms crucial part of China's Belt & Road Initiative. It is an enormous infrastructure project that brings prosperity to the region, facilitates people to people exchanges and links China to Eurasia.  The heavily used Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe railway passes through Xinjiang.  China's iconic high-speed rail network is now expanding rapidly into the area and currently a new line is under construction between Lanzhou and Zhangye which will complement the existing Lanzhou - Xinjiang line. The expanding rail system is opening up Xinjiang not only to the world but also allowing for isolated regions to come together. The Chinese government has announced further railway investments through its 14th five year plan including proposals for a high-speed link to Kyrgyzstan. 
The improved transport links have enabled farmers and growers to export greater quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables and so raise their incomes while gaining access to more consumer goods and services. A booming tourism sector has been created including cross border travel with Kazakhstan. Tourists can visit towns, ports, have grassland adventures, experience different ethnic cultures and have peaceful rural homestays. By balancing conservation with tourism growth the region is able ensure sustainable development. 
Xinjiang has the largest installed photovoltaic capacity of all Chinese regions and ranks third in wind=power output.  Designated as a national base for wind and solar energy it plays a key role in west to east power transmission in addition to powering local industrial clusters. An 800 Kv DC transmission line, 2260 km in length, was recently commissioned connecting Xinjiang's Hami region with Chongqing.  Xinjiang is able to export electricity to the energy hungry regions of Eastern China while receiving capital to fund its further development, increase employment and gain access to high technology products.
Xinjiang is also an exporter of fossil fuels. On 29th October 1955 a drilling rig struck oil at Karamay in a sparsely inhabited desert region. It was the first major oil field to be discovered after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.  Today the city has grown to be home for over 100,000 people. The question now is, in a region with an annual rainfall of less than 100mm, how to live when the black gold runs out.  The city is boldly reinventing it's economic structure by pivoting towards renewable energy with massive wind, solar and storage installations which will lay the foundations for the digital age by supporting powerful computer capacity. The city is also developing a tourist base that includes motor racing and exploring its unique geological features.
On March 21st this year the streets of towns in Xinjiang were transformed for the Roza Festival. People donned traditional costumes and danced in the International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi. There was a sense of warmth and solemnity. People were carrying gifts of fruit and pastries as they made their way to see old friends and relatives. Roza is an important religious holiday of the Islamic calendar. Festival traditions differ from one ethnic group to another each with their own rituals. 
The Xinjiang Autonomous Region has made enormous progress since it was established in 1955, following a short period of consolidation after the establishment of workers’ power in 1949.  Grinding poverty has been overcome, life expectancy has more than doubled and its various cultures have flourished.  The people can look forward to growing prosperity, comfort and security along with first class education and a package of full social care as they build their harmonious new world.  The Communist Party of China has made all this possible and the people are now full masters of their own destiny.  The story of modern Xinjiang is one of achievement. We wish their comrades every success for the future. 
Readers may be interested in a new publication  'Xinjiang Today' which deals with developments in the region. It can be contacted via email :   xt@cicgamericas.com