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    Silk Road Celebrities Visit Xinjiang: Experiencing an Inclusive and Progressive Xinjiang

    Written by: Guo Feng
    Posted on: December 07, 2016 | | 中文

    Karamay Municipal Museum of Science and Technology

    On September 30th, the third session of the activity named “A Visit to China by the Silk Road Celebrities" came to an end, which impressed more than ten celebrities from five countries along the Silk Road, including Turkey, Germany, Egypt, Jordan and Afghanistan, personally experiencing Xinjiang’s rich historical and cultural heritage, and participating in making Xinjiang delicacies through their rich and colorful trips in the region.

    The “Visit to China by the Silk Road Celebrities" included a trip to Xinjiang Normal University, the Museum of Xinjiang, Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences, as well as cities and counties of Turpan, Karamay, Manasi, Fuhai and Shawan. Also included were visits to local historical and cultural preservation, national-level community and city development projects. The group also had a dialogue with local people from all communities and ethnic groups of Xinjiang, experiencing their true life and ideas.

    Silk Road Celebrities Visit Xinjiang

    Tarim Basin Mummy - one of many mummies discovered in Xinjiang (source - Pinterest)

    On September 23rd, the celebrities arrived in Urumqi and paid a visit to the Museum of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, including the exhibition hall of Xinjiang historical relics, Xinjiang ethnic customs and Xinjiang ancient mummies. Arif Erdogan, the chief adviser of Turkey's foreign minister, paid great interest in Xinjiang's cultural diversity. He said: "Exhibited here are cultural relics of ancient Rome, ancient Persia and ancient China, which proves that Xinjiang has been a crossroads of western and eastern culture since ancient times. Now Xinjiang is open and has been witnessing the harmonious life and development of all ethnic groups here, which is proof of its inclusiveness."

    On September 26th, the ten celebrities visited Karamay City for its famous oil products. The celebrities visited Karamay Municipal Museum of Science and Technology, Karamay Data Center of CNPC, Black Oil Mountain and Karamay River, learning about how people in Karamay developed the city from a Gobi desert to a modern petroleum city through sheer hard work.

    Ahshima Herreid, a journalist from an Egyptian newspaper, commented during his visit to the Municipal Science and Technology Museum: "it is amazing and unbelievable for local people that the Gobi Desert has been transformed into such a beautiful city. Egypt has a similar situation with oil and a harsh environment, but we haven’t been able to construct a similar developed city, which is a big gap on the concept of building a petroleum city and pushes me to write out after I return home."

    Danis Carlucci, Chief Editor and CEO of Pariwake News Agency from Afghanistan, gasped in admiration when he saw the Data Center of CNPC, admiring the disaster recovery system and cloud computing technology. “It is the first time that I have seen it; it offers a great opportunity of cooperation for Afghanistan and the development of its oil industry and other Silk Road countries."

    Silk Road Celebrities Visit Xinjiang

    An aerial view of the Karamay River (source - China Tours Online)

    On September 27th, the group came to Shawan County for its rural industrialization. The journalists visited the Alibaba Tacheng Industrial Zone at Shawan County, Ethnic Clothing Business Industrial Zone of Shawan County, and the Shawan catering industry. In the Alibaba Tacheng Industrial Zone, the staff explained to the guests how they sell local special goods around the world through the network. This attracted the attention of Gilani Szwarc, the general manager of Kabul News Television of Afghanistan. He said, “There are also some Internet businessmen in Kabul like these in Xinjiang, but this is the first time that I have witnessed Internet businessmen expanding their business to the rural areas, selling local agricultural products around the world and increasing the incomes of the local people, something that is worthy of my people’s credit and learning.”

    At a store in Alibaba Tacheng Industrial Zone in Shawan Courty, the foreign guests began their procurement mode, red dates, walnuts, raisins…everyone got a couple of bags in their hands. “In Egypt I had heard that nuts from Xinjiang are very famous, and today I truly know why. I’d like to take some home for my family and friends." said Mych Mohamed, the director of Nile Television Station Egypt.

    In the ethnic minority clothing business industrial zone, more than 30 women were making Kazakh garments. The special and exquisite workmanship with unique patterns and styles attracted foreign guests. Almut Chu, a senior reporter from Turkey Free Press attempted to put on a well-made lady hat on the head and took a selfie, planning to buy and take it home. "I like it because it has a very special ethnic touch. All workers here are from rural areas and many of them can make these at home, which is worth learning for the people of our country."

    Silk Road Celebrities Visit Xinjiang

    Da Pan Ji or 'Big Plate Chicken' (source - Silk Road Chef)

    In the afternoon, the group went to a local chicken restaurant and tasted the authentic local delicacy, “Big Plate Shawan Chicken”. Ashima Herreid and Nislin Abu Saleh, a Jordan television presenter, also learned how the delicacy was cooked. The food was highly praised by all members of the group.

    The event was jointly organized by the Publicity Department of CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Committee, and China Radio International. It has received support from the Embassies of Turkey, Egypt, and Afghanistan in China. Through in-depth exchanges jointly exploring the local customs of the Silk Road sections in China and witnessing achievements in economy, culture, science and technology, they believe that it has enormous potential for collaboration on the "One Belt and One Road".


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021