Xinjiang, formerly known as Sinkiang, is home to 47 ethnic groups, every major religion of the world, and the descendants of four ancient civilisations: Greek, Chinese, Indian and Mesopotamian.
China’s Qing dynasty reclaimed control of the western regions in 1884, and post-Revolution in 1949 the Communist People’s Republic of China incorporated Xinjiang, with a 90% ethnic Muslim population, into China. Since then, as the Chinese majority Han population has grown from 6% to 41% (2010 Census), Uighur Muslims have dropped to 45%.
With its geographical position and climate benefits, Xinjiang has the most to offer China’s grand $1 trillion Belt and Road Initiative. Yet, with its relatively poorer economic position, deep ethnic tensions and security situation, it could also contribute the most number of problems to the initiative.
Here are some glimpses into the region that is China’s greatest hope and biggest worry, provided by The Hindu’s Diplomatic Affairs editor Suhasini Haidar, who visited the region.
At the Ürümqi International Land Port, trains heading to Western countries are loaded with goods, recreating some of the networks of the old Silk Road.
Students playing at the No. 66 school in the region’s capital, Ürümqi. Nearly all the students here belong to poor families who live hundreds of km away in the rural and underdeveloped parts of southern Xinjiang, closer to Kashgar. 90% of them belong to the ethnic ‘minorities’, as the Uighur Muslims and other ethnicities are termed. They are given a “mainstream” Chinese education in which religion, culture and ethnicities don’t find much of a place.
The Islamic Institute, a stone’s throw from No. 66, is one among the 10 such institutes in the region that educate men to become Imams.
Two hundred and fifty km south of Ürümqi, Korla is being marketed as the ‘Eye of the New Vitality of the Silk Road’. This dusty town on the edge of the desert has been transformed with a grant of $50 billion. Korla’s desert climate is also spawning new opportunities for China’s BRI. The dry air and soil have always been known for growing the juiciest pears and grapes.
Yanqi County, not far from Korla, hosts early a dozen vineyards that hoping to repeat Marco Polo’s wine exports along the new Silk Road. “China has had 5,000 years of wine drinking, but regular grape wine is only just catching people’s attention,” says Zou Jiyun, the owner of a prominent winery.
One of the biggest concerns China has for Xinjiang is security, due to ethnic tensions between the Han Chinese and the Uighur Muslims. In Korla, city planners are working on massive housing projects to bring the two major communities to live together.
Officials say all farmers and peasants are being given housing and compensation commensurate with the homes they gave up. Seen here is an Uighur family at Korla renovation complex.