2020 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The region has undergone tremendous change in recent years, with two million jobs created between 2014 and 2019, alone. From China's perspective, Xinjiang's transformation is a story of much-needed socio-economic development. Outside observers, however, see the region in different terms, and stories have appeared in some Western media about abuses of human rights and religious freedom, as well as criticisms of Xinjiang's network of vocational education centers.  

Today, we are joined by three Xinjiang residents who show us the region through their eyes. Meanwhile, a panel of foreign journalists and scholars discuss the region's development and share their own personal stories of the region. The aim of the forum is to show the world the other side of Xinjiang: a fascinating region with unlimited potential.