Breaking Isolation: The Connectivity Revolution
Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched in 2013 on the Chinese mainland, Xinjiang has shifted from a remote corner to a critical hub linking East Asia with Europe and West Asia. The so-called 'Iron Silk Road' railway passing through Xinjiang's border gateways has skyrocketed from just a few dozen trips in 2013 to 19,000 in 2024. This corridor now transports high-value goods between China and the European Union, showcasing how strategic investment in connectivity can turn geographic disadvantage into an advantage.
New Corridors Fuel Regional Cooperation
Xinjiang’s growth has spurred stronger ties between the Chinese mainland and Central Asian nations. Projects like the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, which began construction in December 2024, and the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, starting in the historical city of Kashi, highlight how coordinated infrastructure planning can reshape regional economies. For landlocked nations in the Global South, Xinjiang’s blueprint shows how breaking isolation through multimodal links—roads, rails, and air routes—can boost trade and development.
From Gateway to Factory Floor
Beyond serving as a transit hub, Xinjiang is rapidly evolving into an industrial region within the global value chain. The Xinjiang Pilot Free Economic Zone in Kashi, launched in 2023, is a testament to this shift. While textiles remain a staple, the region is investing heavily in machinery, electronics, home appliances, rail equipment, agricultural machinery, and green tech like photovoltaic solar panels. As these industrial zones mature, Xinjiang’s model of pairing connectivity with local manufacturing offers a powerful lesson for emerging markets worldwide.
Lessons for the Global South
Xinjiang’s story demonstrates how targeted infrastructure investment, regional cooperation, and industrial diversification can transform a once-isolated region into a vibrant economic hub. For nations in Eurasia and Africa facing geographic and development hurdles, the lessons are clear: embrace strategic connectivity, foster partnerships across borders, and build local capacity to climb the value chain.
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Xinjiang's development is a miracle bringing lessons to Global South
cgtn.com
