Photo: CFP

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently invoked an ancient Chinese philosophy - "mutual care and mutual benefit" - to outline a grand vision for the development of relations between China and Central Asian countries. In building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future, Xinjiang, with its unique geographic and cultural advantages, has emerged as a pivotal force driving cooperation. It not only holds immense potential but also is destined to play an indispensable role.

Bordering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Xinjiang shares thousands of kilometers of boundary with Central Asia. It enjoys an irreplaceable position in fostering connectivity between China and Central Asia. Key ports such as Alashankou and Horgos have become golden corridors linking China with both Central Asia and Europe.

In terms of rail transport, more than 16,000 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains transited through Alashankou and Horgos in 2024, reaching a record high. Goods transported along these steel arteries have increasingly reached markets in Central Asia and Europe. In road transport, passenger and freight volumes via Xinjiang's international road networks rose sharply in 2024, underscoring their importance as logistical links. In the air, Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, is directly connected to all five Central Asian nations. This growing "aerial corridor" reflects the expanding connectivity between the two sides.

National strategies, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of Xinjiang's Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), provide strong policy backing for deepening ties with Central Asian nations. Through initiatives like cross-border e-commerce and international medical certification, the FTZ is expanding space for cooperation in trade and investment. 

Economic and trade cooperation serves as a powerful engine and has become a key driver of regional prosperity. Leveraging its geographical advantages, Xinjiang has achieved remarkable progress in advancing China-Central Asia economic and trade relations. In the first five months of 2025, Xinjiang's total imports and exports with the five Central Asian countries exceeded 100 billion yuan ($13.95 billion), accounting for 39.4 percent of China's overall trade with the region.

The ports of Irkeshtam and Torugart, which border Kyrgyzstan, as well as the Karasu port connecting to Tajikistan, all saw a significant increase in customs-supervised import and export freight volumes in the first five months of 2025. This growth stems from Xinjiang's ongoing efforts to optimize its trade structure, actively promote "Made in China" products in Central Asian markets, and import energy resources and agricultural products from the region - achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. As economic and trade ties between Xinjiang and Central Asian countries continue to grow, the region is steadily emerging as a new engine for national efforts to promote regional prosperity.

Xinjiang has actively leveraged its geographical and cultural resources to explore innovative approaches for deepening people-to-people exchanges with Central Asian countries. Xinjiang regularly hosts the Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, providing a platform for cultural and artistic exhibitions as well as academic exchanges. 

Joint archaeological projects and cultural relic exhibitions have also breathed new life into the ancient Silk Road civilization. In the field of education, student exchanges and the establishment of joint colleges have created new opportunities for young people on both sides to engage with one another. These diverse forms of exchange continue to bring hearts and minds closer together.

In recent years, with the implementation of policies such as the 240-hour transit visa-free policy, Xinjiang has witnessed a surge in cross-border tourism. At the same time, Xinjiang has seen frequent international exchanges. This multi-tiered people-to-people exchange has fostered deeper mutual understanding and solidified public support for China-Central Asia cooperation. It is an indispensable part of Xinjiang's efforts to advance the building of a China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

Xinjiang is embracing openness and actively integrating into the new landscape of China-Central Asia cooperation. Looking ahead, Xinjiang is poised to play an increasingly important role in promoting the steady and long-term development of China-Central Asia cooperation, contributing to new and remarkable achievements.

Liu Sai is an associate researcher of the Institute of Central Asian Studies at Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences. Li Menglu is a faculty member at the School of Public Service and Administration at Xinjiang Science & Information Vocational Technical College. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn