Could China build a second capital in the far-western deserts of Xinjiang?

A government-funded study says establishing a secondary capital would help rebalance the economy and boost links with Asia and Europe

The paper also said the move could help address ethnic tensions in the region, which is home to many Uygurs and other minorities

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Xinjiang is far from the main economic and commercial centres of China. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:00am, 30 Apr 2023Updated: 12:26pm, 30 Apr 2023

China should set up a second national capital in the far-western deserts of Xinjiang to strengthen its ties with the whole Eurasian land mass, a government-funded study has proposed.

The proposal aims to address geopolitical and environmental risks, rebalance the country’s economic centre of gravity and create new growth opportunities, according to researchers involved in the four-year project.

Xinjiang is located along the western border of China, far from the country’s economic and political centres. It is a vast region with a harsh climate, including extreme temperatures, arid deserts and high-altitude plateaus.

The region is also home to many ethnic minority groups, including Uygurs, Kazakhs and Mongolians, and borders Tibet.

Tensions between these groups and the Han Chinese majority have led to occasional violence and unrest, as well as allegations of widespread human rights abuses, which Beijing has strongly denied.

These challenges could potentially make it difficult to build a new capital in Xinjiang that is attractive to investors and able to support sustained economic growth.

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