Xi Jinping Visits Xinjiang After 8 Years... Political Message to Biden

Possibility of Tibet Visit Raised Following Key Interests in Hong Kong and Xinjiang
Meeting with Biden Imminent... Likely Implies Not to Mention Xinjiang Human Rights Issues

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is the first time in eight years since 2014 that President Xi has visited Xinjiang.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency Capture

State-run Xinhua News Agency reported on the 15th that President Xi visited Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, from the afternoon of the 12th to the morning of the 13th. Chinese media including Xinhua reported that President Xi toured the Urumqi International Land Port Export Area, Xinjiang University, and the Xinjiang Museum.

Urumqi is a key area of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Products manufactured in various parts of western China, including Chongqing, are gathered in Urumqi. Urumqi is the departure station for China-Europe freight trains.

During his visit to the Urumqi International Land Port Export Area, President Xi said, "The construction of the Belt and Road has achieved many results in recent years," and emphasized, "Xinjiang is no longer a frontier but a core region of China." He also added that the Belt and Road construction holds great historical significance and that Xinjiang’s future is bright.

President Xi’s visit to Urumqi, Xinjiang carries political messages. His inspection of the Urumqi International Land Port Export Area signifies the expected prosperity of Xinjiang’s economy, and his visit to Xinjiang University is interpreted as a political move to embrace the younger generation of the Uygur ethnic group.

Additionally, his visit to the Xinjiang Museum conveys the message that the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities is part of the cultural heritage of the Chinese nation and that it will be protected and inherited. President Xi also watched a performance of Manas (the Kyrgyz epic hero narrative), which is a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

Photo by Renminwang Capture

There is also an interpretation that President Xi visited Urumqi to reiterate to the Western camp, including the United States, which criticizes human rights in Xinjiang Uygur, that Xinjiang is a part of China and a core interest.

Some speculate that President Xi may visit the Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region ahead of the 20th Party Congress, expected to be held between October and November. From the 29th of last month to the 1st of this month, President Xi visited Hong Kong on a two-day, no-overnight schedule, emphasizing that Hong Kong is part of mainland China. The Chinese leadership claims that Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Taiwan are core interests of China that can never be abandoned.

Regarding President Xi’s inspection of Xinjiang, there are also talks that a summit meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden is imminent. It is interpreted that the summit includes an understanding not to mention China’s core interests such as Xinjiang. There is also analysis that the message includes the need to lift economic sanctions on Xinjiang. The prevailing forecast is that the summit between President Xi and President Biden will take place around the end of this month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.