BEIJING- China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC), that is organizing a visit to Xinjiang province for a number of journalists from different countries, held a pre-departure briefing session for the upcoming visit, on Monday (June 17).

Zhang He, the deputy executive producer at China Global Television Network (CGTN) newsgathering, briefed the journalists on details of the Xinjiang trip.

What comes as follow, are the headlines of the briefing.

Xinjiang

• Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region ("new frontier")

• The largest province in China, spanning over 1.6 million

km2 (Iran: 1,648,195 km2)

• It takes up about 1/6 of the country's territory   

 Weather

• Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is inland and far from the ocean

• Surrounded by high mountains, blocking marine air currents

• Distinct temperate continental climate

• Significant temperature variations       

The Uyghurs

• The largest ethnic group in Xinjiang

• It takes up 46% of the total population

• Han, Kazak, Hui, Mongolia, Tatar and Russianinly

• Mainly located in Kashgarr, Hotan, Aksu and others in Urumqi     

Kashgar Old City

•The old town houses nearly 20,000

•In 2009, major renovation project that spanned up to 7 years

•In March, a new legislation entered into

Id Kah Mosque

• One of the biggest mosques in China

• Built more than 500 years ago (during the Ming Dynasty)

• Its architectural design is rich in ethnic styles, incorporating elements of Buddhism

• Xinjiang has 24,400 mosques (one mosque for every 530 Muslims)

WESTWARD OPENING UP

An important corridor linking Asia and Europe

• Xinjiang becomes gateway in China's opening up in the west

• Strengthen economic and trade exchanges between China and neighboring countries

•China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone

• Includes areas in Urumqi, Kashgar, and Khorgas

• China's 22nd pilot free trade zone and the first-ever in the country's northwestern border regions.

Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone (Kashgar Area)

• Kashgar Area of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade

Zone

• Leveraging international trade logistics to boost

its export-oriented economy

• On-site processing of imported resources & modern service industries like international logistics and

cross-border e-commerce.

Urumqi International Land Port Area

• Urumqi China-Europe Railway Express Hub

• A comprehensive bonded zone.

• A landmark project in the construction of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt

Kashgar Jiangguoguo Agricultural Technology

Dried fruits, fresh fruits, and nuts from Xinjiang

•"tribal e-commerce + independent platform + farmers" business model

•20% to 30% increase in farmers' incomes •Employment opportunities for 3,500 local farmers

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

•About 25 million inhabitants.

• only about 9.7 percent of Xinjiang's land area is fit for human habitation

• China's Xinjiang lifts millions out of poverty •

• Relocation of poverty-stricken villagers making efforts to increase income

• Langqiao Shui’an Community, Duolaite Bage Township, Kashgar City

• Development infrastructure—water, electricity, roads, gas, heating, communications, schools, and medical services

• Residents' quality of life has improved.

• Yikang Huayuan Residential Area, Shule Town, Shule County

• 2,296 local shops, 95 enterprises and institutions, and 285 neighboring businesses

• Ensure stable employment for its relocated residents

• Shule County Modern Vegetable Industrial Park • Employing more than 680 people

• Average monthly wage - over 2,000 yuan

Shamalebagh Town Health Center, Kashgar City

Traditional Chinese (Uyghur) medicine

• 283 varieties of traditional herbal medicines

• Most of the staffs are ethnic minorities

Aksu Prefecture

• Aksu, which literally means "white water" in local language

• The second largest desert in the world- Taklimakan Desert

• High peak of Tianshan Mountain

• 73% are Uyghur, 26% are Han, others belong to other 34 ethnicities.

Aksu City

Aksu Night Market    

Cotton Production

• The economy of Aksu is mostly agricultural

• Cotton is the main product, (long-staple cotton)

• Kumuaoyila Village Cotton Fields

• 100% of cotton planting being mechanized

Kekeya Green Project

• On the northwestern side of the Taklimakan Desert

• Kekeya green project was launched in 1986

For over 32 years, four million people, kept on planting trees

• Change the harsh natural conditions in Aksu

E-commerce Entrepreneurship Incubation Base

• Drive the growth of the e-commerce sector in Aksu 3 years of rent-free occupancy

• Free live streaming services for product promotion

• Exemption from water and electricity charges

Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar

Combined with cultures of Xinjiang ethnic minorities (Uyghur, Kazakh, Hui) 

8th China-Eurasia Expo

Scheduled to be held from June 26 to 30

The expo will cover an area of 140,000 square meters

Four major exhibition zones: investment cooperation,

international exhibition, special industries, and

equipment manufacturing.

Photo: Zhang He, deputy executive producer at CGTN newsgathering, briefs journalists on their upcoming visit to Xinjiang