Urumqi came alive on September 25, as thousands gathered to mark 70 years since the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With General Secretary Xi Jinping of the CPC Central Committee in attendance, the event celebrated seven decades of transformation in China’s far west.
From Remote Frontier to Open Gateway
In 1949, Xinjiang’s roads barely stretched 3,000 kilometers and most villages were isolated. Fast forward to 2024, and that number has ballooned to 230,000 kilometers of highways, connecting every administrative village with paved routes and regular passenger transport services. Over the same period, the region’s GDP surged from 749.9 billion yuan (around $105 billion) in 2012 to 2,053.4 billion yuan ($288 billion) last year, a steady annual growth of 7 percent. Imports and exports followed suit, almost tripling to 434.16 billion yuan ($61 billion) in 2024.
Investing in People’s Well-Being
More than 70 percent of Xinjiang’s public budget now goes to improving livelihoods. Since 2012, 2.73 million rural housing units have been built, lifting over 11 million residents into spacious, safe homes. Healthcare has also received a major boost: the region now boasts over 19,000 medical and health institutions, with 100 percent of township health centers and clinics meeting national standards. Life expectancy has climbed from 30 years in 1949 to 77 years in 2024—an extraordinary leap.
Education has seen similar gains. The nine-year compulsory education retention rate is over 99 percent, surpassing the national average. In southern Xinjiang, four prefectures now offer 15 years of free education from kindergarten through high school.
Cultural Heritage and Tourism on the Rise
Xinjiang’s rich tapestry of cultures has flourished alongside its economic boom. The region hosts 150 museums and memorial halls, 118 cultural centers, 111 public libraries and more than 1,100 community cultural facilities. The fusion of culture and tourism has turned ancient traditions into a modern draw, welcoming a record 302 million visitors in 2024.
As Xinjiang continues to advance the Silk Road Economic Belt core area construction, it steps onto the global stage with renewed confidence. The next chapter promises even deeper connections—linking people, ideas and markets across the wider world.
Reference(s):
Seven decades of glory: Xinjiang forges a path of diverse development
cgtn.com
