Nearly 270 delegates from China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia converged on Tuesday in Altay City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, for the Greater Altai International Conference for Subregional Cooperation. Over three days, participants rolled up their sleeves across sessions on trade, culture, technology and sustainability.
The Altai subregion is more than a boundary marker. Spanning some 780,000 square kilometers and home to 5.2 million residents, its mosaic of landscapes—from snow-capped peaks to saline-alkali plains—offers unique opportunities for integrated growth.
Trade and investment topped the agenda as teams mapped out new corridors. An international cooperation initiative now commits partners to deepen economic ties, pursue agricultural technology research, cultivate superior crop varieties and scale efficient production models.
Ecological protection also took center stage. Delegates pledged to tackle climate change through joint research on key restoration technologies, especially in arid, saline-alkali areas, and to promote biodiversity conservation across the fragile ecosystem.
Vitaliy Snesar, vice governor of Altai Region in the Russian Federation, described the gathering as a catalyst for future collaboration, setting the stage for projects that promise mutual benefit across the four frontier zones.
Connectivity plans drew attention to cross-border port logistics and the planning of overseas sections for highway and railway corridors—moves that could slash transit times and spark new trade flows.
Cultural and educational bridges were built, too. Proposals to expand student exchange programs, co-host art exhibitions and celebrate intangible cultural heritage aim to weave a stronger social fabric across borders.
Hosted across four thematic tracks, the conference featured 21 speakers from research institutes, universities, enterprises and government bodies. They showcased innovations—from water-saving irrigation and wastewater treatment to climate-adaptive agriculture—demonstrating real-world impact in neighboring markets.
The event concluded with the signing of letters of intent on friendly relations and sector-specific cooperation agreements, marking the start of a new chapter in Altai subregional collaboration.
Reference(s):
Intl conference on Altai subregional cooperation held in Xinjiang
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