◇ In August 2023, when General Secretary Xi Jinping listened to the work report of the Party Committee and Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, he emphasized that Xinjiang must give full play to its unique location advantages, actively serve and integrate into the new development pattern, proceed from reality to opening up, accelerate the construction of the core area of the "Belt and Road", and make Xinjiang a bridgehead for my country's opening to the west.

◇Xinjiang has successively issued a series of policy documents, based on its unique location advantages, accelerated the construction of a major channel for opening up to the outside world, persisted in reform and innovation to promote deep, wide-ranging and all-round opening up, and made good use of both international and domestic markets and resources to expand new space for an open economy., incorporate its own regional opening strategy into the overall layout of the country's opening up to the west, and create a bridgehead for my country's opening up to the west.

◇In the first half of 2024, Xinjiang's total foreign trade import and export value was 220.63 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 48.4%. The foreign trade import and export scale hit a record high in the same period; Xinjiang port supervision import and export freight volume was 39.338 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 11.9%.

◇In recent years, Xinjiang has continuously accelerated the construction of railway networks, highway networks, aviation networks and trade and logistics networks. A comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network that connects China in the east and Europe and Asia in the west, supporting the country's opening up to the west has accelerated the formation.

◇In June this year, Xinjiang's financial department launched cross-border RMB settlement facilitation measures for high-quality enterprises in the pilot area, which not only simplified settlement procedures, but also helped enterprises avoid exchange rate fluctuations risks.

◇In 2022, Xinjiang's cross-border e-commerce will achieve import and export of 8.52 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 311.6%; in 2023, Xinjiang's cross-border e-commerce will achieve import and export of 11.37 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 61.8%.

◇In recent years, my country has established 56 national-level key open platforms and industrial development platforms in 14 categories in Xinjiang, providing "incubators" for the implementation of foreign-related industries, with trading partners in more than 170 countries and regions.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is located in the geographical center of the Eurasian continent, with a vast land, rich resources and unique location advantages. As my country expands its opening up to the outside world, develops the western region, and jointly builds the "Belt and Road", Xinjiang has changed from a relatively closed inland area to a frontier of opening up to the outside world.

General Secretary Xi Jinping is eager to promote Xinjiang's high-level opening up to the outside world.

In July 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized during his inspection and investigation in Xinjiang: "We must promote the construction of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, incorporate Xinjiang's regional opening strategy into the overall layout of the country's opening up to the west, innovate the open economic system, and accelerate the construction of a major channel for opening up to the outside world, make better use of both international and domestic markets and resources, and actively serve and integrate into the new development pattern."

In August 2023, when General Secretary Xi Jinping listened to the work report of the Party Committee and Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, he emphasized that Xinjiang must give full play to its unique location advantages, actively serve and integrate into the new development pattern, proceed from reality to open up to the outside world, accelerate the construction of the core area of the "Belt and Road", and make Xinjiang a bridgehead for my country's opening to the west.

In October 2023, the State Council issued the "Overall Plan for the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone" to provide institutional support for Xinjiang to integrate into domestic and international dual circulation, serve the construction of the core area of the "Belt and Road", and strive to build a bridgehead for my country's opening to the west.

"Port Construction Plan of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2023-2026)"Several Measures to Promote the Stability and Quality of Foreign Trade in the Autonomous Region, and Stability and Improvement of Foreign Investment" and "Several Measures for the Autonomous Region to Support the Stable Development of Foreign Trade"... Xinjiang has successively issued a series of policy documents, based on its unique location advantages, accelerating the construction of the opening up to the outside world. We must adhere to reform and innovation to promote deep, wide-ranging and all-round opening up to the outside world, and make good use of both international and domestic markets and two resources to expand new space for an open economy. Integrate our own regional opening strategy into the overall layout of the country's opening up to the west and create a bridgehead for my country's opening up to the west.

In the first half of 2024, Xinjiang's total foreign trade import and export value was 220.63 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 48.4%. The foreign trade import and export scale hit a record high in the same period; Xinjiang port supervision import and export freight volume was 39.338 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 11.9%.

Ma Xingrui, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said that the current Xinjiang in China is an open and confident Xinjiang. Xinjiang is accelerating the promotion of high-level opening up to the outside world. In the process of building my country's bridgehead for opening up to the west, it continues to promote exchanges and cooperation with countries and regions around the world.

In the Urumqi International Land Port Area, Xinjiang, a China-Europe train loaded with cargo is about to leave (photo taken on May 27, 2024). Photo by Wang Fei/This newspaper

Accelerate the construction of a major channel for opening up to the outside world

With the continuous deepening of reform and opening up, Xinjiang, which is deep in the hinterland of Asia and Europe and does not rely on the sea or the river, has become increasingly prominent in the overall pattern of opening up. Seizing development opportunities, Xinjiang accelerates the construction of a major channel for opening up to the outside world.

Accelerate the construction of the six-in-one road network of "east connection and west exit". Xinjiang continues to accelerate the construction of railway networks, highway networks, aviation networks and trade and logistics networks. A comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network that connects the country in the east and Europe and Asia in the west, supporting the country's opening up to the west is accelerating.

In May 2023, the Xi'an Declaration of the China-Central Asia Summit proposed the construction of the third cross-border railway between China and Kazakhstan: the Tacheng-Ayaguz Railway. In June this year, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan signed an inter-governmental agreement between the three countries on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project. At present, the preliminary work of the two railways is progressing steadily.

"With ports to Central Asia, Russia and Europe, as well as infrastructure such as the third cross-border railway between China and Kazakhstan in the future, Tacheng will better become a 'golden channel' connecting Asia and Europe." Qin Qingtao, executive deputy director of the Management Committee of Xinjiang Tacheng Key Development and Opening Pilot Zone, said.

The "Air Silk Road" is accelerating its expansion in Xinjiang. Air China opened a direct flight from Urumqi to Moscow, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and resumed its direct flight from Urumqi to Urumqi. The "Tianshan" international all-cargo flight from Urumqi to Baku, Azerbaijan... In the first week of September this year alone, Urumqi Diwopu International Airport added or resumed a number of international passenger and cargo routes.

At present, Xinjiang has opened 119 bilateral international road transport lines, accounting for more than 1/3 of the national total; opened 23 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight lines, covering 19 countries and 26 cities in Europe and Asia; opened international passenger transport There are 26 routes, reaching 21 cities in 16 countries; and 26 cross-border international optical cables are built; Four "Xinjiang Power Transmission" channels and three "West-East Gas Transmission" channels have been completed and put into operation, initially forming a "six-in-one" interconnection network system of highways, railways, airports, communications, pipelines, and power grids. The level of smooth channels continues to improve.

Optimize and improve port layout and traffic capacity. If the port is open, it is open. Xinjiang is adjacent to eight countries: Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. It has 19 land ports officially opened to the public approved by the State Council.

Xinjiang continues to optimize the layout of ports, and port construction is "advancing by leaps and bounds": in October 2023, China and Pakistan announced that the Hongqilapu Highway Port will be open all year round; in December 2023, Xinjiang's third aviation port, Yining Aviation Port, completed the official national acceptance; On September 3, 2024, the Bedieli Port, the third land port of China and Kyrgyzstan, was temporarily opened for customs clearance.

"Green channel","7×24 hours","scheduled customs clearance","single window"... The customs clearance pace at various ports in Xinjiang is fast and efficient. Since the beginning of this year, the Takshken Port in Xinjiang on the China-Mongolia border has optimized the construction of a special port freight channel, improved transportation efficiency, and optimized customs clearance procedures. Heavy trucks loaded with Mongolia coking coal have followed one after another. In the first seven months, the port imported 2.072 million tons of coking coal, a year-on-year increase of 34.17%.

"Port joint inspection units have improved customs clearance efficiency, made it more convenient to import coking coal, and reduced enterprise logistics costs." said Du Zhiquan, general manager of Xinjiang Xinbei Development Coal Industry Co., Ltd.

Xinjiang is accelerating the digitalization and intelligent construction of ports. On February 27, Horgos Port was approved as a national "smart port" construction pilot. Relying on the Horgos customs clearance information service platform, the port has completed the construction of informatization projects such as the "one-stop" arrival inspection system and the territorial direct inspection system, realizing functions such as AI Face Recognition and automated comparison of personnel information. Functional modules such as driver information registration, one-click vehicle reservation, approval release traceability, and panoramic cockpit of the customs clearance information service platform have been gradually improved.

According to statistics from Horgos Customs, in the first seven months of this year, the import and export freight volume of Horgos Port was 25.642 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 9.8%. The trade volume of imported agricultural products and food increased significantly. New energy vehicles, mechanical and electrical products, high-tech products, clothing, etc. have become major export commodities. Among them, new energy vehicles have become new growth points.

Build a strong international logistics hub center for Asia and Europe. Xinjiang has been the transportation hub of the Silk Road since ancient times. In the overall layout of the country's opening up to the west, Xinjiang has actively built and strengthened an international logistics hub center for Asia and Europe, playing an irreplaceable hub role.

On June 4, the intermodal train of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor jointly built by Chongqing, Xinjiang departed from the China-Europe Train Assembly Center in Urumqi International Land Port Area and was sent to Southeast Asian countries via Chongqing, opening up a new path for Central Asia and Xinjiang to "go south to sea" through Chongqing.

As an important hub connecting the two major economic circles of Asia and Europe, and the logistics hub closest to Central Asia, West Asia and Europe on the China-Europe Railway West Corridor, Urumqi International Dry Port Area gives full play to its advantages and actively "collects goods, builds parks, and gathers industries", forming a multi-point and multi-direction train operation method, and strives to improve the efficiency of cargo circulation.

"Since settling in the Urumqi International Land Port Area, the company's goods gathered from Xinjiang and other provinces and cities have been transported through the 'Tianshan' train, which can reach abroad more conveniently and efficiently. Our business segments include international transportation, domestic transportation, chemical trade, etc., and are currently expanding freight transportation to Europe." said Geng Yong, chairman of Xinjiang Luxin Fengchi International Logistics Group Co., Ltd.

At present, the China-Europe (Central Asia) trains already operated in Urumqi International Dry Port Area can reach 19 countries and 26 cities in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. The types of goods have expanded from daily necessities and clothing products to mechanical equipment, plumbing and building materials, etc. More than 200 categories.

At the Takshken Port in Xinjiang, transport vehicles are passing through the country gate (photo taken on March 13, 2024). Photo by Chen Shuo/This newspaper

Reform and innovation expand new space for opening up

Standing at the forefront of opening up to the west, Xinjiang adheres to reform and innovation, incorporates its own regional opening strategy into the overall layout of the country's opening up to the west, and continues to promote the continuous expansion of opening up to the outside world in a deeper, wider and all-round way.

Institutional innovation builds an open economic system. On August 20, a batch of 340.99 tons of copper concentrate entering from Alashankou, Xinjiang, was successfully transported to the Urumqi area of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as the "Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone") for unloading site supervision. This marks the implementation of the "port + unloading site" joint supervision model in Xinjiang, and the time from entry of copper concentrates to the factory has been reduced from the original 10 - 15 days to 3 - 5 days.

This is the latest footnote for Xinjiang to innovate and promote the development of the free trade pilot zone. On November 1, 2023, the Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone was unveiled and established, becoming my country's first free trade pilot zone established in the northwest border areas. As of June this year, among the 129 reform pilot tasks in the Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone, 60 have been implemented, achieved phased results and positive progress.

"To build a high-level free trade pilot zone, institutional innovation is the core." Sun Hui, a professor at the School of Economics and Management of Xinjiang University, said that since the establishment of the Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone, innovative measures and key projects have been implemented one after another, injecting new impetus into promoting Xinjiang's industrial agglomeration and accelerating open development, and is conducive to strengthening and jointly building the "Belt and Road" Close cooperation between countries.

Finance is an important force serving the construction of the Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone. There is no need to submit supporting materials one by one, and the processing time has been reduced from the original 1 to 3 days to 5 minutes... In June this year, Xinjiang's financial department launched cross-border RMB settlement facilitation measures for high-quality enterprises in the pilot area, simplifying settlement procedures. At the same time, it also helps companies avoid the risk of exchange rate fluctuations.

As economic and trade cooperation between China and Central Asian countries continues to deepen, demand for commercial legal services and other services is increasing rapidly. On November 1, 2023, the Central Asia Trial Center of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission was officially unveiled in Urumqi. At present, many arbitration cases have been handled efficiently. "Xinjiang Council for the Promotion of International Trade continues to improve foreign-related legal protection and service levels, and continues to improve full-chain, one-stop, international commercial legal services." Chen Yulin, Secretary-General of the Xinjiang Council for the Promotion of International Trade, introduced that on August 22, the Central Asia Mediation Center of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade was officially unveiled in Urumqi, marking that Xinjiang has once again introduced an international authoritative dispute resolution institution to settle down.

Better play the role of key open platforms. In late autumn, Xinjiang's Tacheng is chilly, and the Tacheng Key Development and Opening Pilot Zone is a busy scene. In the blade production workshop of Sany (Tacheng) Wind Power Equipment Co., Ltd., the sound of machines rumbled, the lifting equipment slid back and forth, and the forklifts kept shuttling. Workers were working intensively and orderly on the production line of 84-meter-long blades.

"Last year, the company produced more than 350 sets of blades, and this year it is expected to produce more than 600 sets." Abdurriymu Alimiti, the company's product process engineer, said that with the rapid development of the new energy industry, the demand for blades is increasing. The company plans to invest in the establishment of a 131-meter Changfeng leaf production line next year to meet the market demand of domestic and Central Asian countries.

Xinjiang Tacheng Key Development and Opening Pilot Zone is adjacent to Kazakhstan and is an important window for my country to open to the west. At present, 44 projects in the pilot area are under construction. The number of enterprises settled in the pilot area has rapidly increased from 63 in 2023 to 111, and the number of enterprises put into operation has reached 7, achieving a total industrial output value of 255 million yuan.

It is not only a key development and opening pilot zone in Tacheng, Xinjiang, but also a China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center, Urumqi International Land Port Area, Kashgar Economic Development Zone, Horgos Economic Development Zone, as well as a high-tech development zone and a comprehensive bonded zone... In recent years, my country has established 56 national-level key open platforms and industrial development platforms in 14 categories in Xinjiang, providing "incubators" for the implementation of foreign-related industries, with trading partners in more than 170 countries and regions.

As of the end of June this year, there were 2255 registered foreign-invested enterprises in Xinjiang, an increase of 10.81% over the same period last year, involving wholesale and retail industries, information transmission industry, software and information technology services industry, leasing and business services industry, etc.

Policies open the way to activate cross-border e-commerce. "We have established overseas warehouses in Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries, and our trading warehouses in Urumqi, Horgos, Alashankou and Kashgar. The company's platform trading, transportation and warehousing capabilities are becoming stronger and stronger." Meng Xiuli, general manager of Xinjiang Silk Road Communication Information Technology Co., Ltd., introduced that the company has completed the construction of overseas warehouses, middle warehouses and back warehouses in three years, and currently more than 400 merchants have settled on the platform.

Guiding enterprises to jointly build and share overseas warehouses and port warehouses with a focus on neighboring countries, expanding the layout of overseas warehouses in countries co-building the "Belt and Road", and supporting enterprises to build port warehouses in Kashgar, Alashankou and other places are Xinjiang's efforts to promote cross-border e-commerce One of the important measures for development.

In recent years, Xinjiang has accelerated the innovative development of new foreign trade formats and models, and has issued a series of policies in strengthening infrastructure, innovating regulatory models, cultivating business entities, and deepening international cooperation. It has continued to promote the construction of cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones in Urumqi City, Kashgar Prefecture, Alashankou City, and Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. The import and export scale of cross-border e-commerce continues to expand, constantly releasing new momentum for foreign trade growth.

Data shows that in 2022, Xinjiang's cross-border e-commerce will achieve import and export of 8.52 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 311.6%; in 2023, Xinjiang's cross-border e-commerce will achieve import and export of 11.37 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 61.8%.

The booth of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone at the 8th China-Asia Europe Expo (photo taken on June 25, 2024). Photo by Chen Shuo/This newspaper

Make better use of two markets and two resources

Based on its unique location and resource advantages, Xinjiang actively integrates into the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative and the strategy of developing the western region in the new era, makes better use of both international and domestic markets and resources, and constantly explores effective ways to serve and integrate into the new development pattern. Continue to release the superimposed, aggregated and multiplier effects of opening up to the outside world.

Create open advantageous and characteristic industries. In the Alashankou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, machines roared in the production workshop of Alashankou Jinsha River Food Co., Ltd. After entering the milling workshop, wheat from Kazakhstan is ground into fine flour layer by layer. After dough mixing, pressing, cutting, and drying, it is packaged into noodle products of different specifications.

"After wheat enters the comprehensive protected zone, there are no tariffs or quota restrictions, and production companies can effectively control costs." Yin Feihong, the person in charge of the company, said that the workshop produces 24 hours a day, workers change jobs, and equipment does not stop.

In Alashankou, there are 14 similar leading processing enterprises for imported grain and oil, as well as more than 100 import and export trading enterprises. Taking advantage of the qualification of designated ports for imported grain, Alashankou actively develops the grain and oil reserve and processing industry, accelerating the formation of a complete industrial chain integrating production, supply and marketing. 813 companies have settled in the Comprehensive Guaranteed Zone, forming five distinctive and advantageous industrial clusters, including imported grain processing, wood processing, export equipment manufacturing, medical materials, and cross-border e-commerce.

Xinjiang takes advantage of its unique location, resource endowment and industrial foundation to give full play to the linkage advantages of two international and domestic markets and two resources to accelerate the construction of oil and gas production and processing, coal, coal and chemical industry, green mining, grain and oil, cotton and textiles and clothing, green organic fruits and vegetables, and high-quality The construction of the "nine major industrial clusters" of livestock products, new energy and new materials, and cultural tourism, actively undertake the transfer of industries from the central and eastern regions, form complementary advantages with characteristic industries of neighboring countries, and improve the connection between the east and the west, The industrial chain and supply chain that draw from the west to the east actively expand cooperation in new business formats and new fields such as digital economy and equipment manufacturing, and actively serve and integrate into the new development pattern.

Expand the "circle of friends" with the focus of "exhibitions". Camel milk powder from Kazakhstan, honey from Kyrgyzstan, handicrafts from Uzbekistan, wine from Georgia... In June, the 8th China-Asia and Europe Expo with the theme of "Silk Road New Opportunities and New Vitality" was held in Urumqi, attracting more than 2100 enterprises and institutions from 50 countries, regions, international organizations, 30 provinces, municipalities and Xinjiang to participate in the conference, and a total of 395 economic and trade cooperation projects were signed, with a total amount of 615.552 billion yuan.

In recent years, a series of high-standard and high-quality exhibitions have been successfully held, including the China-Asia and Europe Expo, Xinjiang Mining Expo, Xinjiang Coal Expo, Xinjiang Agricultural Expo, Xinjiang Seed Fair, Xinjiang Water Conservancy Exhibition, and China Xinjiang Kashgar Central Asia South Asia Commodity Fair. They have not only injected strong development momentum into related industries, promoted trade prosperity and sustained consumption growth, but also opened up a new situation for Xinjiang's economic development and opening up to the outside world.

Xing Tao, deputy secretary of the Party Leadership Group and director of the Department of Commerce of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said that Xinjiang will continue to play the radiating role of the exhibition platform and invite various provinces and cities in the northwest to organize groups to participate in the 2025 Business Expo. Use key exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo, Canton Fair, and Silk Expo to carry out coordination and linkage between northwest provinces and regions; organize powerful enterprises to participate in overseas exhibitions such as the Kazakhstan-China Commodity Exhibition and the Kyrgyz Silk Road National Commodity Exhibition, and actively explore the national market of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Deepen extensive cooperation with neighboring countries in various fields. China's Xinjiang and Central and South Asian countries are connected by mountains and rivers and have similar humanities. Economic and trade cooperation has a long history and broad prospects. In the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, the two sides have strengthened exchanges and exchanges in various fields such as trade, investment, transportation, energy, infrastructure, science and technology, and continuously strengthened complementary advantages and win-win cooperation.

In March 2023, the China Xinjiang Friendship Exchange Delegation visited Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. During this period, Kazakhstan AE Group signed a production capacity cooperation agreement with Xinjiang TBEA Co., Ltd. to jointly carry out production capacity cooperation in outdoor high-voltage power equipment, switch cabinets, assemblies, etc. and research and development of high-end power equipment, covering the company's entire industrial chain integrated sales business.

Since 2023, the main party and government leaders of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have led many inspections to Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan to fully implement the important consensus reached between China and the heads of state such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, and reached a series of cooperation matters in the fields of new energy, medical care, and agricultural product industry processing.

At present, there are 8 regular cooperation mechanisms between Xinjiang and neighboring countries and regions, and China-Kazakhstan entrepreneur docking activities and forums in related fields with some countries are carried out on a regular basis.

Erken Tuniazi, Chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said that Xinjiang will vigorously promote the construction of "one port, two districts, five major centers, and port economic belts" and continuously deepen practical cooperation with countries and surrounding provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities jointly building the "Belt and Road"; Actively serve and integrate into the new development pattern, build the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone with high standards, actively expand economic and trade cooperation with countries co-building the "Belt and Road", especially SCO countries and Central Asian countries, and solidly promote port construction. Three years of action, strive to build a bridgehead for my country's opening to the west.

The ancient city of Kashgar, Xinjiang in the early morning (photo taken on March 10, 2023). Photo by Li Xiang/This newspaper

(text？| "Outlook" Newsweek: Li Ziliang？, Cao Zhiheng？, Liu Bing,？ Guan Qiaoqiao,？ Cai Guodong)

("Outlook", No. 41, 2024)