Xinjiang’s new party chief calls for efforts to boost supply chains and improve international business

Ma Xingrui says more needs to be done to promote investment in the region and support enterprises

Remarks come after US president signed into law a ban on imports from Xinjiang over concerns about forced labour

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Ma Xingrui (third from left) meets workers at a civil service centre in the Guyuan community of Tianshan district in Urumqi on Monday. Photo: Xinjiang Daily

Published: 9:00pm, 28 Dec 2021

Xinjiang’s new Communist Party secretary Ma Xingrui called for efforts to modernise the region’s supply chains and improve the international business environment, as he made his first tour of the capital, Urumqi, on Monday.

His remarks came after US President Joe Biden last week signed into law a measure banning virtually all imports from Xinjiang over concerns about forced labour. The far western region has a key role in the global supply of polysilicon, which is used to make solar panels, and is a major source of cotton.

China is under growing international pressure – including sanctions against officials, blacklisting of companies and other measures – over alleged human rights abuses against Uygurs and other Muslim minorities in the region. Beijing says its policies are designed to combat extremism and has denied US accusations of carrying out “genocide” or using forced labour in Xinjiang.

Ma Xingrui has taken over as party chief of Xinjiang after five years as Guangdong governor. Photo: Edward Wong

Ma took over as Xinjiang party chief on Saturday, replacing Chen Quanguo, who has been targeted by foreign sanctions over the crackdown.

During a visit to the Urumqi Economic and Technological Development Zone on Monday, Ma said the region should actively serve and integrate into the belt and road infrastructure plan, according to the official Xinjiang Daily.

He also said supply chains needed to be modernised and conditions for doing business internationally should be improved, including through tax breaks.

“It is necessary to increase the promotion of investment … implement measures to support enterprises and stimulate innovation,” he was quoted as saying.

For the past five years, Ma has been governor of Guangdong province – a manufacturing hub in the south and the country’s top exporter – and he is expected to focus on the business environment in Xinjiang.

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