-
Advertisement
Xinjiang
ChinaPolitics

Feeling secure, China goes into development mode in Xinjiang

  • Work has started on a US$275 billion infrastructure programme as the region’s focus shifts from stability
  • There are also subtle signs on the ground that change is on the way

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
49
About 900 million yuan is expected to be spent on development programmes in Xinjiang this year. Photo: Weibo
William Zheng
The starting orders came on Thursday from Urumqi, the capital of China’s far western region of Xinjiang.

At that moment, legions of bulldozers, concrete mixers and excavators were powered up at work sites across more than a dozen cities.

It marked the beginning of a plan to spend 1.75 trillion yuan (US$275 billion) in the region, 900 million yuan of it this year, the official Xinjiang Daily reported on Friday.

Advertisement

In all, work got under way or resumed on 4,467 projects in the region – 27 with a total investment of more than 5 billion yuan and 103 projects with a total investment of 1 billion yuan to 5 billion yuan, the report said.

The launch of the major infrastructure projects appears to be another sign that Beijing is confident of its grip on society and its Xinjiang policy is tilting back to economic development, an observer says.

01:50

China claims improved living standards and ethnic equality in Xinjiang while ignoring allegations

China claims improved living standards and ethnic equality in Xinjiang while ignoring allegations

The infrastructure drive in Xinjiang is part of Beijing’s broader efforts to stimulate the economy amid weakening external and internal demand and disruptions from Covid-19 outbreaks.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x