Phoenix TV:

In recent years, Xinjiang has integrated its regional opening up strategy into the country's overall plan of opening up to the west, and accelerated the development of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. What measures has Xinjiang taken in terms of its opening up strategy? Thank you.

Erkin Tuniyaz:

Thank you for your question. I'd like to invite Mr. Chen to answer it.

Chen Weijun:

Thank you for your question. Xinjiang has remained firmly committed to the opening up strategy. In recent years, the country has advanced its strategy of opening up to the west and developed the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. As such, Xinjiang has been giving full play to its advantages in terms of policies, geographical location and development. This transformation has turned the region from a relatively isolated inland area into a frontier of opening up, making it a critical gateway for the country's opening up to the west. Located at the core area of the Eurasian continent, Xinjiang looks out onto the wider world from its vantage point. With multiple ports linking eight neighboring countries, Xinjiang's crucial location on the Silk Road Economic Belt makes it a vital bridge connecting Asia and Europe. This is a reality that defines the region. Today, Xinjiang is blessed with both timing and geographical advantages. People of all ethnic groups are embracing the world with great enthusiasm and looking toward the future with optimism. 

From a policy perspective, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have delineated Xinjiang's five strategic roles in national development, including a golden channel across the Eurasian continent and a gateway for opening up to the west, as well as a strategic fulcrum of the new development dynamic. The country has approved the establishment of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, setting up 56 national-level key open platforms and industrial development platforms across 14 categories in Xinjiang, providing a series of special preferential policy support. Geographically, Xinjiang stands at the intersection of the New Eurasian Land Bridge, China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor, and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. It shares borders with eight countries, and has 19 open ports currently, serving as an important window for China's opening up to the west and a key international golden passage to Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and Europe. From the perspective of industries, in recent years, Xinjiang has focused on the target of meeting national needs and utilizing local resources. It has leveraged its abundant energy, mineral, and agricultural resources to build a modern industrial system that reflects its unique strengths at a faster pace. The region boasts vast potential for development in modern agriculture, commercial logistics, advanced manufacturing, new energy, green computing, and cultural tourism. Xinjiang's potential for cooperation with Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and European countries in industrial and supply chains is immense.

We are actively integrating into the country's overall plan of opening up to the west, leveraging the unique location advantages of the Belt and Road core area to accelerate the construction of "One Port, Two Zones, Five Centers, and One Port Economic Belt," opening our doors wider. We are steadily expanding institutional opening up. A series of preferential policies have been introduced to support the stable development of foreign trade development, and as many as 129 pilot reform tasks of the Pilot Free Trade Zone have been fully launched, with over 80 already implemented and achieving phased results. For example, the clearance time for agricultural and sideline products at border ports with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan has been reduced from five days to just one day. We are also committed to enhancing the efficiency of the "golden channel across the Eurasian continent." There are 119 bilateral transport routes and 10 multilateral road freight routes. A total of 16,400 freight trains traveled through Xinjiang on the China-Europe Railway Express in 2024, marking the fifth consecutive year that the number of trains on the line had exceeded 10,000. The increasingly developed transportation network of roads, railways, and flights connects Xinjiang closely with the global market. We continue to expand our circle of trade partners. We have hosted high-quality economic and trade events, establishing trade relations with more than 220 countries and regions worldwide. Last year the 8th China-Eurasia Expo was held in Xinjiang, resulting in signed agreements totaling 610 billion yuan. Through unremitting efforts, Xinjiang's opening up has demonstrated strong momentum. As Mr. Erkin mentioned previously, Xinjiang's total import and export value has increased from 158.96 billion yuan in 2012 to 434.16 billion yuan last year, creating new development opportunities for many countries and regions around the world. From the bustling Alashankou Port and Khorgos Port to the China-Europe Railway Express connecting Central Asia and Europe, a more open, confident, and dynamic Xinjiang is opening its arms to welcome global partners to share development opportunities and write a new chapter of win-win cooperation on the Silk Road Economic Belt.

That's all from me.

Shou Xiaoli:

Due to time constraints, we'll take one last question.