After completing a trip to Xinjiang along the modern Silk Road, renowned Brazilian journalist Pepe Escobar shared his observations in a podcast. He said what he saw subverts Western media narratives.

Traveling from Urumqi to Kashi, he witnessed the vibrant growth of a megacity in the desert hinterland, expressways built to resist shifting sands, and the Taklamakan Green Belt, marveling at the remarkable scale of local modernization.

In the renovation of the old town, the government provided funds to help residents renovate their houses, completely dispelling negative portrayals in the Western press. Additionally, he recalled scenes of harmonious coexistence and collaboration among people of various ethnic backgrounds, including those from the Han and Uygur communities, who live, work, and thrive together. These real-life scenes demonstrate Xinjiang's vibrant development, diversity, and inclusiveness under the Belt and Road Initiative.