Graphics: High-quality economic development in Xinjiang

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has undergone rapid and remarkable changes in recent years. The region saw high-quality economic development in 2023 and took the lead in many economic indicators across the country, according to the regional government work report.

Xinjiang achieved 6.8 percent GDP growth in 2023, compared to the national growth rate of 5.2 percent. The per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents increased by 5.6 percent and 8.4 percent, respectively. Its fixed-asset investment increased 12.4 percent, and retail sales rose 18.8 percent compared to a year ago.

Last year, the region's import and export volume grew by 45.9 percent, which is 45.7 percentage points higher than the national growth rate in imports and exports. Central Asia remained Xinjiang's largest trade market, with total imports and exports surging 50 percent year on year in 2023 and accounting for 79.4 percent of Xinjiang's total imports and exports.

In 2023, Xinjiang's tourism industry achieved rapid growth, with the region receiving 265 million visitors, a remarkable 117 percent growth, setting a historical record. The tourism revenue of the region totaled 296.7 billion yuan (about $41.2 billion), up 227 percent, while the airport passenger throughput exceeded 40 million for the first time, an increase of 143.8 percent compared to the previous year.

The Xinjiang regional government is eyeing greater development goals this year and beyond. For 2024, the region has set a GDP growth rate target of around 6.5 percent, significantly higher than the around 5 percent growth targets set by many other regions in China. The region also plans to keep imports and exports growing at around 20 percent this year.