On September 15, 2025, a China Southern Airlines flight carried 167 Russian tourists from Moscow to Urumqi in just 4.5 hours. This was the first group of Russian tourists to arrive in Xinjiang following the implementation of the visa-free policy between China and Russia.

Photo taken on September 15, 2025 shows Russian tourists arrive in Urumqi from Moscow. (Photo provided by Xinjiang Airport (Group) Co., Ltd.)

Xinjiang is increasingly opening up and forging stronger connections with the world, not just through infrastructure and shared rules, but also through building mutual understanding and trust. It's actively creating new opportunities for win-win cooperation on a global stage.

As an official from Xinjiang stated at the press conference for the white paper "Communist Party of China Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements," "Xinjiang in China is throwing open its arms to welcome global partners."

Xinjiang's value shines on the global stage

As the sun rises, the Kashi Comprehensive Bonded Zone is already bustling with activity. Staff at the BOSSGOO Central Asia Operation Center sort, pack, and label goods. Boxes of electronic products and daily necessities are neatly arranged, ready for export.

Photo shows Kashi Comprehensive Bonded Zone in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by people.cn/Li Xinyang)

Zhao Zhijiang, head of the BOSSGOO Central Asia Operation Center, said, "Since the center was established in Kashi Area of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone in August last year, trade volume has exceeded 6.87 billion yuan (about 965 million U.S. dollars). Building materials, power equipment, and electrical appliances are very popular in Central Asia."

The saying "connect to Eurasia via Kashi" has become a common understanding. In August this year, Zhao signed a 300 million yuan (about 42.15 million U.S. dollars) export order with the Kyrgyz government and is now ready to expand his business in Kashi.

The Urumqi International Land Port Area, a signature project of the core area construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, is rapidly becoming a key hub on the Eurasian Golden Corridor. It has attracted many enterprises to set up shop, including the foreign company Alblas Transport (Xinjiang) Co., Ltd., which is one of the representatives.

Photo shows Urumqi International Land Port Area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by people.cn/Li Xinyang)

"Investing in Xinjiang is investing in the future." This company has demonstrated the value of this statement through its actions. Looking back to 2000, the company entered the Chinese market and relocated its China headquarters from Shanghai to Urumqi in 2009, recognizing the advantage of opening up to the west.

"With the growing market demand, we have restarted our heavy asset investment in China after 15 years," said Dilixat Mamat, deputy general manager of the company. "This region is where China's westward land transportation can reduce the last 15 percent of logistics costs, and we are very optimistic about the development prospects of Xinjiang."

In the first seven months of this year, Xinjiang saw 3,396 foreign trade enterprises with actual imports and exports, a year-on-year increase of 25.4 percent.

As the group of foreign trade players has grown, Xinjiang's circle of trading partners has also expanded. The region has moved from border trade with a handful of neighboring countries to trading with 223 countries and regions around the world. Xinjiang's value is increasingly being recognized globally.

More people sharing the opportunities of openness

At the Horgos Road Port, brand-new domestic automobiles line up like a dragon. "Ferry driver" Jin Hu is waiting to clear customs.

After the visa-free policy between China and Kazakhstan took effect, the "self-drive export" exit clearance method has become more convenient and flexible thanks to the joint efforts of customs and border inspection departments of both countries. As a result, a growing number of people are engaging in this cross-border trade activity.

Photo shows "ferry drivers" steer the vehicles for sale in queue towards Kazakhstan in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by people.cn/Li Xinyang)

Compared to traditional enclosed truck transportation, "ferry drivers" offer more flexible delivery, higher efficiency, and lower costs. This makes the vehicles more competitive in terms of pricing and other aspects, and is highly favored by foreign car importers.

Seeing his neighbors, the "ferry drivers," build new houses and buy new cars, Jin Hu from Qingshuihe Town in Huocheng County couldn't resist the temptation and joined the ranks of the "ferry drivers."

"Now every month, my wife and I take turns driving vehicles across the border, and we earn nearly 20,000 yuan. We can afford building a new house by the end of the year," Jin said.

According to statistics, in 2024, this mode of transportation saved companies 150 million yuan (about 21.08 million U.S. dollars) in costs, while the "ferry drivers" earned a total income of over 90 million yuan (about 12.65 million U.S. dollars). The rise of the "ferry drivers" has created a large number of job opportunities for the local area and other provinces and cities outside Xinjiang.

Photo shows vehicles queue up for exit at the Horgos Road Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by people.cn/Li Xinyang)

The constant flow of vehicles is just a small reflection of the booming border economy in Xinjiang. The favorable policies not only drive market trends but also subtly improve the lives of ordinary people.

In the Yiwu International Trade Market at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center, cross-border live streaming by foreigners is becoming increasingly popular, bringing "Made in China" products into the homes of more international consumers.

In Zharkent, Kazakhstan, more and more people are traveling between China and Kazakhstan for cross-border trade, making transnational commuting a trend.

Nowadays in Xinjiang, groups of "new workers" such as "ferry drivers" and "cross-border commuters" are emerging constantly, and an increasing number of people are sharing the opportunities brought by high-level opening up.

The path to openness continues to widen

At the end of June, over 2,800 companies from 50 countries and regions gathered at the 2025 (China) Eurasia Commodity Trade Expo. They signed 365 economic and trade cooperation projects, with a total value of 417.924 billion yuan (about 58.68 billion U.S. dollars). This has brought new opportunities for the prosperity and development of more countries and regions.

In mid-July, Xinjiang organized six outstanding wine enterprises to showcase 21 types of wine products at the Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan. This initiative aimed to broaden channels for cooperation and exchange, and to promote Xinjiang wines to a global audience.

With its doors of openness swinging ever wider, Xinjiang is ready.

Photo shows a freight train travels through the mountains. (Photo provided by China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd.)

Infrastructure connectivity continues to strengthen. Xinjiang now has 19 open ports of entry approved by the State Council. It has launched 119 international road transport routes, accounting for over one-third of the national total. More than half of the China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains pass through the region.

Xinjiang is aligning its policies and rules to create a business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and international. It is deepening pragmatic cooperation with neighboring countries in trade, economy, energy, science and technology, and agriculture. The 129 pilot reform tasks in China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone have been fully launched, using institutional innovation to build an open highland.

Xinjiang is stepping up its efforts to bring people in and send its own out. For two years running, its top legislative body has invited foreign guests to observe its sessions. It has hosted a number of conferences, including the 6th World Media Summit and the 2025 SCO Media Cooperation Forum. It has signed academic and cultural exchange agreements with 25 countries and launched a number of high-quality cross-border tourist routes.

Photo taken on May 23, 2025 shows the 2025 Youth Cultural Exchange Camp of SCO kicks off in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by people.cn/Li Xinyang)

Numbers tell the story best. Over the span of three years from 2022 to 2024, Xinjiang's foreign trade import and export value saw a remarkable surge, consecutively surmounting significant milestones. This impressive leap not only reflects the region's robust resilience but also its untapped potential.

Reflecting on its 70-year journey, Xinjiang has evolved from a relatively less connected region to a hub of openness and exchange. Each stride taken has underscored that engaging with the world is a crucial driver of progress and prosperity. In this new era and on this new journey, Xinjiang is poised to embrace the world with even greater confidence.

(Source: people.cn, Reporters: Tang Xiaoyong and Li Xinyang)