KUALA LUMPUR: Come see Xinjiang for its beauty and its significance as a crucial region of China, a top official of the region has exhorted Malaysians and people around the world.
The call was made by Chen Cheng, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Information Office deputy director, who addressed past negative reports that this northwestern province has been plagued with.
“We invite people from all corners of the world to come and witness Xinjiang’s beauty,” he said at the Concorde Club meeting on “The Real Xinjiang, from Multiple Perspectives”.
Xinjiang’s image, he said, has been overshadowed by negative narratives from external sources for too long, with an excessive focus on contentious issues rather than a recognition of its strides in development.
“Xinjiang has come a long way and has much to offer as an important region in China,” he said.
“It makes up one-sixth of China’s land area while sharing borders with eight countries spanning over 5,700km in length.”
It is also a vital base for the nation’s energy and grain supply as well as for significant coal, oil and natural gas reserves, he added.
“Xinjiang’s cotton production also dominates the national output, accounting for more than 90% for six consecutive years.”
Chen said that under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, Xinjiang has experienced remarkable changes with meticulously coordinated development and stability.
“Last year, Xinjiang recorded a notable 6.8% growth in GDP, and an increase in fiscal revenue exceeding 220 billion yuan for the first time, a significant rise of 15.3%.
“As a result, 3.06 million people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang have been lifted out of poverty by the end of 2020,” he said.
As of last month, Chen said, Xinjiang has played host to an astounding 246 million tourists, both domestic and international, registering an increase of 14.97% over the same period last year.
“We also see more Malaysians visiting Xinjiang,” he said, adding that the re-establishment of 23 routes reaching 19 countries and 26 cities in Eurasia signified potential for increased connectivity.
Cultural exchange: Chen (front, fifth from left) and Ng (sixth from left) with speakers and attendees of the Concorde Club meeting. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
When asked, Chen said the local government has made concerted efforts to bolster tourism and present the truth about Xinjiang’s evolving story, adding that Xinjiang’s image has for long been perceived negatively by outsiders.
“These reports were not so much about defending human rights or democracy but were aimed at portraying Xinjiang as a backward place.
“Today, a new chapter of the region is emerging. Every visitor is a storyteller, contributing to a mosaic of experiences that reveals the multi-ethnic and multicultural fabric of Xinjiang,” he said.
With Malaysia and China celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties this year, Chen said Xinjiang and Malaysia have extensive opportunities for cooperation.
“From economic and trade interactions to cultural and tourism exchanges, even among the Muslim communities and halal industry, there’s significant potential for engagement,” he said.
The Concorde Club is an informal gathering of editors and senior journalists with politicians, policymakers and key opinion leaders.
The meeting also saw four speakers who shared various aspects of Xinjiang, such as its history, freedom in religious practice, culture, living and food, and education and academic excellence in the region.
They were China Islamic Association vice-president Maimaiti Juma, also the khatip (the person who delivers the sermon) of the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar; Xinjiang University’s School of History dean Prof Meng Nan; Northeast University of Political Science and Law’s National Security School Assoc Prof Duan Yangwei; and Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences’ Law Institute assistant researcher Zilimila Aniwaer.
Also present at the meeting, which was moderated by Star Media Group (SMG) chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng, were the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus (Asia Pacific) director and senior fellow Bunn Nagara, Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute chief executive officer Danial Rahman, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia fellow Wan Roslili and other academics.
Previous guests of the Concorde Club, led by Bernama chairman and SMG adviser Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, included senior ministers and government leaders.
