Foreign Journalists Visit Xinjiang Series (17) –Xinjiang information Office Deputy Director Shaliyef: Xinjiang has seen great changes through Belt and Road Initiative and Tourism

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 1(Greenpost)– At lunch on August 31, it was time to say goodbye. This might be the last time that we all eat lunch together. For the whole trip of eight days,  Xinjiang Information Office Deputy Director Ailiti. Shliyef has always accompanied us, but he didn’t say anything, only to help meet any demands coming from the journalists.

But when the journalists are going to leave, he finally spoke. He said the main purpose to invite all the journalists here is to let you all have a look at a real Xinjiang and experience in person about the changes in life in Xinjiang. All the facts have proved that the socialism led by Chinese communist party suits Xinjiang very well.

“Xinjiang is located at the core area of the silk road economic belt. The Chinese Central government has invested huge amount of money into Xinjiang’s development. By the end of 2017, Central government has invested 200 billion yuan or about 30 billion US dollars in infrastructure construction. Xinjiang is building six subway lines and two of them are hopeful to be in operation by the end of this year. Fast train between Lanzhou in Gansu province and Urumqi in Xinjiang has been in operation. Fast train between Beijing and Xinjiang is on trial operation. Once it is in operation,  the time between Beijing and Urumqi will be shortened from three days to one day. Most big cities in China can link with Xinjiang.”said Shaliyef.

Shaliyef also said that Xinjiang has sufficient energy including traditional coal and oil but also large amount of wind farms, solar farms and hydropower. Xinjiang’s electricity can be transmitted to Henan and Hebei provinces.

“Now there are also many airlines linking Xinjiang with other provincial capitals. Many large cities can have charter airlines directly to go to Altay, this will greatly promote tourism industry. By the end of July this year, the number of tourists has increased to 75 million. ”said Shaliyef.

Since 2014,  about 70 thousand cardres and party members have been to the countryside to help farmers and herdmen to help them with knowledge, education and science improvement to improve relations between various ethnic groups and between the regional government and rural farmers.  The farmers and herdmen’s housing condition has been improved and the drinking water, electricity and internet problems have been solved. The changes are magnificient.

“All these changes were due to the fiscal investment from the central government and the 19 provinces brotherly assistance. Socialism  under the leadership of the CPC suits Xinjiang very well.” Said Shaliyef.

He also mentioned the riot took place in Xinjiang in 2009. He said this was due to the infiltration of a small group of extremists who spread extremist and separatist ideas beginning in the 1990s. They had tried all means to sabotage the stability in Xinjiang.  During those years, people dared not go to Bazar to sell things due to the insecure situation. But now it is very safe, people can go to the night market to have a walk and have a look. All are happy because it is safe and stable now.

“I like to give you an example, in Kasgar, there is an old town, there are 75000 Ugyhur people there. Over the decades, there has never been riot activities. Why? Because they are doing good business around the temple. There are many good tourists there. So with good business and life, they also live a good life.” Shaliyef said.

But why did the riot happen in Urumqi? Shaliyef said it was just due to the sabotage of the outside forces. They just wanted to have big influence here.

Shaliyef stressed that Xinjiang’s stability came from the correct leadership of the party at various levels. Xinjiang needs to continue to develop and this needs a safe environment, a good public order. Security is also a big issue for many countries, for mankind. Sometimes, those who have never come to Xinjiang just heard some rumors and believed in it. I hope you can report the real situation in Xinjiang through your reports. Of course we are still at development stage.

About ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative, it is good for the countries along the belt and road because it is not just China that wishes to develop, it is the wishes of many countries. The Ancient Silk Road fostered many big cities. I believe the current Belt and Road Initiative will help many countries and cities develop further. Of course, some foreign media was not very comfortable about the belt and road initiative. But in reality, China’s initiative aims to help all countries involved to develop through cooperation and realize a win-win situation.

There are 14 foreign journalists from 14 countries including Belgium and Sweden and 23 Chinese journalists from the mainstream media in China taking part in this 8 day reporting trip. They have seen the tourism and cultural resources in Xinjiang and how the local government prioritised tourism as a pillar industry in Xinjiang’s development. They also experienced the core areas function of Xinjiang linking inland China and the surrounding countries along the silk and road economic zone.

Photo and text  Xuefei Chen Axelsson

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