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China's northwest border region seeks progress through high-quality development | |
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![]() A train carrying auto parts departs from the Wusu Railway Freight Yard in Tacheng, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on November 6, 2024. This was also the successful debut of the China Railway Express (Central Asia) train from Wusu, Xinjiang of China, to Almaty, Kazakhstan (LU YAN)
Tacheng Prefecture, located in the far northwest of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is often affectionately described as having "sky so blue it seems surreal, flowers blooming in riotous profusion, and people of incredible kindness." This prefecture is a hidden gem at the tip of the "tail" of the rooster-shaped map of China and the geographical center of the Eurasian continent. On January 14, the charm of Tacheng was on full display at the National Convention Center in Beijing, where the 2025 Tacheng Investment Promotion Conference took place. The event attracted 300 enterprises eager to explore investment potential and expand their footprint in the area in the coming years. Multifaceted advantages Bordered by Kazakhstan to the west and north, Tacheng is a pivotal point in the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. It is the birthplace of Wusu Beer and Shawan Big Plate Chicken dish, and the homeland of The Epic of Jangar, one of China's three great heroic epics. Tacheng is also the location to enjoy the majestic Tianshan Mountains scenery and the expansive Kurustai Grassland, China's second largest contiguous plain grassland. Additionally, it is home to the Wusha Anjihai Grand Canyon, the largest plain canyon in the country, and the Wusu Mud Volcanoes, Asia's largest active mud volcano group. Tacheng enjoys favorable policies for high-quality development due to its frontier location. In December 2020, the State Council approved the establishment in Tacheng of a key pilot zone for development and opening up, the first of its kind in northwest China. This initiative aims to deepen cooperation with neighboring countries and accelerate the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt's core regions. Both the Central Government and the regional government of Xinjiang have rolled out preferential policies in finance, tax, banking, land, talent, commerce, trade and more. Zhi Xianwei, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of Tacheng, in his address to the Tacheng Investment Promotion Conference, highlighted the prefecture's vast development potential and its five-pronged development goals. These goals encompass becoming a hub for development and opening up, a role model for social stability and ethnic unity, a premier tourism destination with an idyllic living environment, a powerhouse for resource-driven development and a pioneer in frontier governance. Baktu Port, within the pilot zone, is not only a vital passage to Kazakhstan but also a key link to Central Asia and Europe, helping solidify the prefecture's role as a crucial node in the Silk Road Economic Belt. As introduced at the conference, Baktu has been an important international trade route connecting Central Asia for 260 years. It is also the inland port closest to cities in the region and has a very friendly business environment. From Baktu Port, one can reach major cities such as Almaty and Astana in Kazakhstan, and St. Petersburg in Russia. According to Tacheng's tourism authority, the prefecture currently has direct flights to 13 cities both within and outside Xinjiang, with the plan of establishing a direct flight to Beijing, China's capital, in 2025. The prefecture's strategic advantage is being further enhanced by the construction of the third China-Kazakhstan cross-border railway. When Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met in July 2024, both sides agreed to jointly refine the construction plan for the third cross-border railway and decide connection points according to procedure, according to a joint statement. Tacheng is emerging as a front-runner of China's western border opening up. Tacheng is one of the windiest areas in Xinijiang and is developing a multi-million-kilowatt new energy base. The number of average effective hours of wind power generation there reach 2,842 each year, ranking first in Xinjiang, and that of photovoltaic power generation amount to 1,464, ranking third in the region. Tacheng has already developed 16.18 million kilowatts of new energy, with much more in the pipeline. Beyond new energy, Tacheng also has rich mineral resources. Its minerals are known for diversity, large reserves and high quality. To date, 73 types of minerals in 10 major categories have been identified, with proven reserves established for 38 types. The proven reserves of coal amount to 41.95 billion tons, ranking fifth in Xinjiang. The proven crude oil reserves in the prefecture approximate 2.46 billion tons, and the proven natural gas reserves are about 80 billion cubic meters. Promising prospects Zhi, an experienced economic expert who previously served as mayor of Changping District in Beijing and Director of the Beijing Future Science City Management Committee from 2021 to 2024, welcomed entrepreneurs to invest and do business in Tacheng. He emphasized that the prefecture is committed to creating an international, market-oriented, and law-abiding business environment to support enterprises' growth. The Tacheng Investment Promotion Conference brought together government officials, scholars, media representatives, and over 300 representatives from state-owned and major enterprises across many sectors. The conference spotlighted the advantages and prospects of local development in sectors including energy, green mining, investment in the key development and opening-up pilot zone, and agriculture and animal husbandry. At the event, agreements on 30 projects were signed, with a total investment exceeding 73.77 billion yuan (about $10 billion). These projects cover a wide range of sectors, from photovoltaic modules, silicon panels, and intelligent computing centers to tourism, the low-altitude economy, and meat processing. Additionally, seven counties in Tacheng, along with the key development and opening-up pilot zone, signed strategic framework cooperation agreements with fund management companies. During the conference, Tacheng revealed its development plans for modern logistics, tourism and synthetic biology manufacturing, charting the course for future industrial expansion. This announcement signals Tacheng's commitment to strategic development, with the new plans expected to play a pivotal role in reshaping the prefecture's economic future. Xue Guiqiang, a member of the CPC Committee of Tacheng and Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Tacheng Administrative Office, said the release of these three plans stems from a deep-dive into Tacheng's current industrial situation and future trends. He further elaborated that the overarching goal is to demarcate a clear development path, pool resources effectively, direct the scientific arrangement of industries, and foster the high-quality, sustainable growth of all sectors. "Ultimately, these efforts are geared toward laying a robust groundwork for the region's economic development," he added. Zheng Chao, CEO of Jingping Changlian (Beijing) Logistics Technology Co. Ltd., told Beijing Review that his company aims to enter the Central Asian market. With Baktu Port serving as a logistics hub, he plans to cooperate with local partners soon. Zheng also noted that the further development of logistics in Tacheng will facilitate the shipping of local agricultural products, including fruit, to major cities like Beijing. Zhou Hua, Vice Chairman and Executive President of Shouchu Agricultural Credit (Beijing) Technology Group, said the company had conducted on-site research in Tacheng earlier and discovered its huge development potential, advantages and opportunities. "We look forward to collaborating with Tacheng to build a better future," Zhou said. Li Aiying, a representative of the China Great Wall Computer Import and Export Corp., a well-known domestic and international supplier of computer and information technology products, told Beijing Review that a 3D digital-human computing module, a key application developed jointly by the company, Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), and the public security system, has been implemented in Tacheng. Now, artificial intelligence technology is setting Tacheng on a new growth path. BR (Print Edition Title: Catalyst for Cooperation) Copyedited by G.P. Wilson Comments to maxiaowen@cicgamericas.com |
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