Muscat: Omani nationals have been invited to experience the natural wonders of China’s Xinjiang region and invest in its fast-growing economy.
During a virtual meeting titled, ‘Xinjiang is A Wonderful Land’, organised by the Embassy of China in Muscat and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Chinese government provided an in-depth glimpse into the developments in the region and things it offers to people from overseas.
“Xinjiang is the gateway from China to the West and it is also a key part of the country’s Belt and Road initiative,” said Li Lingbing, ambassador of China to Oman. “I invite Omanis to visit Xinjiang and invest in businesses there.” A key segment of economic investment in Xinjiang includes the tourism sector in the region.
Xinjiang has plenty to offer in terms of tourism; it is a land with magnificent landscapes and sceneries. While it is dotted with cultural and historical sites that have become landmarks, Xinjiang is also known as the land of melons and fruits and is visited by both Chinese and foreign tourists.
Economically speaking, Xinjiang is a key node on the Eurasian Continental Bridge that connects China to the rest of Asia and Europe. The city’s presence will speed up development of core areas in the Silk Road Economic Belt. More than 170 countries have trade ties with the region.
Figures shared by Chinese officials show that in 2021, Xinjiang’s regional GDP was 1.6 trillion Renminbi (OMR96 billion), an increase of seven percent over the previous year.
The average annual disposable per-capita income of urban and rural residents increased by over eight percent and 10.8 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, continuous improvements in the social security system and free medical checkups for the entire population have had a great impact in improving the quality of life of the local population.
A nine-year compulsory education system has also been rolled out across the region. Comprehensive efforts have been taken to integrate rural and urban education systems.
Efforts made by the government have also resolved the problem of extreme poverty. By the end of 2020, 3.06 million had been lifted out of poverty, while 3,666 villages and 35 counties were also brought out of poverty.
In line with Xinjiang’s multi-faith roots, people’s freedom of religion and religious beliefs are respected and protected in the region.
The principle of freedom of religious beliefs, enshrined in the national constitution, has been implemented in its entirety.
Furthermore, people in the region are guaranteed by law the right to use and develop their ethnic languages and script.
The meeting was also attended by Nasser Al Busaidi, the ambassador of Oman to China, who saw first-hand the developments in the region during his visit to Xinjiang, where he was able to have person-to-person contact with the people.
He invited all Omanis to go and experience Xinjiang just like he had.
