Over the past 28 years, a long-term initiative in China has brought and continues to bring profound transformation to Xinjiang, a region that covers one-sixth of the country’s territory. From the first aid delegation to Xinjiang in 1997 to the launch of full-scale cooperation between 19 provinces and cities in 2010, this collaboration stretching across mountains and seas is crafting a powerful narrative of shared development.
Xinjiang possesses unique characteristics: rich oil and gas reserves, world-renowned high-quality cotton, and a harmonious multiethnic society. However, its geographical location has long posed development challenges. Located far from China’s economic hubs and burdened with high transportation costs, Xinjiang has struggled to translate its resource wealth into sustainable economic progress.
To overcome this, China initiated a model of nationwide cooperation aimed at supporting Xinjiang’s development. The philosophy behind this model is clear: the true strength of a country lies in the collective advancement of all its regions, and lasting social stability depends on the unity of all ethnic groups, bound together like the seeds of a pomegranate.
Over the past two decades, this approach has delivered visible results. In the economic realm, assistance has gone beyond capital investment to focus on cultivating industries aligned with Xinjiang’s natural strengths. For example, through cooperation between Guangdong and Kashgar Prefecture, the Xinmei Industrial Park has developed a cold-chain logistics and e-commerce network that allows local specialty products to reach national markets within 48 hours. The park has attracted 18 companies to form a complete industrial chain, creating thousands of jobs in the process.
Statistics show that since 2012, Xinjiang’s total economic output has doubled, with an average annual growth rate of 6.6%. A mix of characteristic agriculture, tourism, and energy sectors has evolved in an integrated manner, leading to a more rational and balanced industrial structure.
Education has also seen rapid progress. Schools built in Kashgar with support from Shanghai feature multimedia classrooms and modern laboratories. Experienced teachers from the east have mentored their local counterparts, significantly raising the quality of instruction. In the past 15 years, more than 2,100 schools in Xinjiang have been newly built or upgraded, granting a greater number of children equal access to education — and with it, greater life opportunities.
Healthcare in Xinjiang has also improved markedly. Complex surgeries performed by doctors from Beijing in Hotan have addressed significant medical gaps in the region. In Zepu County, a treatment plan developed by specialists from Shanghai for a child with a rare disease has brought hope to a previously despairing family. More importantly, large-scale investment in rural clinics has enabled residents in remote areas to access quality healthcare right at their doorstep. A problem once described as “medical difficulty” has now been largely overcome.
Cultural exchanges have drawn people from different regions closer. During Xinjiang Cultural Week held in Zhejiang, performances such as the Uyghur Maixilaifu dance and Kazakh embroidery introduced audiences to the diverse allure of Xinjiang. Joint construction of cultural centers and artistic collaborations have further deepened mutual understanding between various cultures — the kind of heart-to-heart connection that often outlasts material aid.
In truth, the significance of supporting Xinjiang goes far beyond physical development. It acts as a vital bond, tightly linking the knowledge and resources of other regions with Xinjiang’s development needs. In this process, understanding and mutual trust among people of different backgrounds have grown deeper. This expansive web of cooperation, stretching thousands of miles, embodies China’s vision of inclusive development and social harmony. The underlying principle is simple yet powerful: when all ethnic groups share in the fruits of progress, the nation as a whole truly moves forward.
Source: Cai Alimu & Wang Haiman, China Media Group.