Living in the remote areas of China, people of minority nationalities in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are enjoying better lives today and living harmoniously with the stationed army there.
Its location on China’s far Western bortder puts the Autonomous Region in the dead center of the Asian continent. The capital city, Urumqi, claims the dubious honor of being the furthest city from a coastline anywhere in the world.
Lack of access to major international sea ports is a major factor in limiting growth in the region, and Xinjiang’s development lags far behind that of China’s Eastern seaboard. The region’s centrality gives it a crucial geostrategic position, and soldiers are stationed there to safeguard the long frontiers. The soldiers do not just perform guard duties, they also contribute a lot to the lives of local residents.
It’s really nice to see people of different nationalities living harmoniously together. While preserving their centuries-old customs and religious traditions, Xinjiang people are taking in new information from outside so that their unique culture continues to develop and thrive.
Xinjiang border trade
There are two major ports on China’s border with Kirghiszstan, Tulgat port and Yierkerstan port. Everyday, many goods are exported from here, including daily necessities, light industrial products, machinery, and foodstuffs. Imported products include agricultural products and srcap metals. Tariffs collected at the Tulgat port since 1990 amount to over 240 million RMB, and value-added taxes to 400 million RMB. Over 100,000 tons of cargo have passed through Yierkerstan, generating 60 million RMB in tax revenue. These ports stimulate border trade and serve as an important international exchange point.
Figures
1. China’s Xinjiang has 5,600 kilometers of international border, bordering 8 countries. It has 16 ports providing routes to neighboring countries. In recent years, Xinjiang’s border trade has experienced a 42% growth rate, making it China’s second largest border trade region by trade volume.
2. Xinjiang’s import and export trade volume totaled 6 billion USD in the past three years, accounting for 13% of domestic production output value.
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