China’s President Xi visits Xinjiang for first time in 8 years, praises region’s ‘core hub’ role
- During lead-up to China’s 20th Party Congress, Xi Jinping visits region for the first time since ordering a hard strike on violence there
- Beijing ready to pour in ‘unprecedented’ resources to turn the region into a gateway to Central Asia and Europe, Chinese Academy expert says
State media reported on Friday that Xi had visited the far western region on Tuesday and Wednesday, in his first public appearance since he was in Hong Kong to mark the city’s 25th anniversary of return to Chinese rule on July 1. It was also his first trip to Xinjiang in eight years.
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China’s President Xi visits far western Xinjiang region for first time in 8 years
“The Belt and Road Initiative has yielded fruitful results over the years,” Xi said, according to the Xinhua news agency, referring to China’s massive infrastructure and trade strategy connecting the nation to others around the world, particularly in Asia and Africa.
“With the deepening of the construction of the belt and road, Xinjiang is no longer a remote area, but a core hub. You are doing something of historical significance and have achieved good results,” Xi said on Tuesday afternoon while visiting the Urumqi International Land Port Area in the regional capital.
Xi also called on local cadres to “tightly hold on to the goal to maintain social and political stability” while leading “high quality development”, Xinhua reported.
“The long term stability of Xinjiang hinges on people’s hearts,” Xi said.
Lai Hongyi, associate professor of social sciences at the University of Nottingham, said Xi’s messaging in Hong Kong and Xinjiang was similar.