XINJIANG- Some journalists from Asia, Africa, and Europe visited Kashgar (city) area of Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone as a part of their one-week trip to Xinjiang province, in the northwest of China.

The trip was arranged by the China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC), and sponsored by China Global Television Network (CGTN) in a program named “China Up Close” initiated by the CGTN.

The China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), the first in China's northwestern border regions, officially started operations in last November.

An unveiling ceremony for the FTZ was held in Urumqi, the regional capital city. Erkin Tuniyaz, chairman of the regional government, issued licenses for the three areas of the FTZ, encompassing areas in Urumqi, Horgos and Kashgar.

The China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone is expected to play an important role in expanding economic ties between China and the rest of the world. The regional government expects to make the FTZ a hub for reform and opening-up, where major projects and leading companies are introduced, and innovative measures taken in facilitating investment and trade, according to Erkin Tuniyaz, the chairman of the regional government.

Xinjiang borders eight countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan, and has the longest borders and most land ports in China.

The FTZ, established on November 1 last year and covering almost 180 square kilometers, has become a driving force to boost China's opening-up to Central Asia, West Asia and South Asia.

Since the unveiling of the Kashgar subzone on November 11, a total of 86 companies have registered with an investment of more than 12.59 billion yuan ($1.75 billion), according to Dong Youhua, deputy director of the development and reform commission of Kashgar prefecture, who is also a deputy to the congress.

Xinjiang's first one-stop exported vehicle industrial park opened in Kashgar on January 3. An industrial park built for Kyrgyzstani companies was established in Kashgar. The prefecture also opened cargo flights to Moscow, according to Dong.

As previously mentioned, visiting Xinjiang was organized by China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC).

CIPCC, under the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), has initiated a program to build a platform for the media from countries around the world, especially developing countries, to observe China and study development in this country.

In each edition of the program, journalists from all around the world gather together to get familiar with the modern China and exchange their experiences in the field of journalism.

In 2024 edition of the program, started on February 26 and supposed to end on July 1, over 100 journalists from more than 90 countries are participating.

Photo: By Mahnaz Abdi