Zhang Chunlin

(Director, Xinjiang Development and Reform Commission)

Author

Zhang Chunlin was born in Deyang, Sichuan Province, in 1965. He started his career in August 1986 and joined the Communist Party of China in January 1986. Mr. Zhang holds a PhD in economics. He has worked successively as Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, and Director of the Xinjiang Development and Reform Commission. Mr. Zhang has also worked successively as Vice Director of the Economic Department of the Tacheng Party Committee; Deputy Secretary of the Shawan County Party Committee; Deputy Secretary-general of the Tacheng County Party Committee; Director of the Economic Work Office of Tacheng; Deputy Secretary and Director of the Party Committee of Xinjiang Township Enterprise Administration; a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, and Executive Vice Mayor of the prefecture; Vice Secretary-general of the Party Committee; and Director-general of Xinjiang Audit Office.

Abstract

Building the Silk Road Economic Belt is an important historic opportunity for Xinjiang. The autonomous region should give full play to its own advantages, and set its eyes on policy communication, traffic connectivity, smooth trade, currency circulation and people-to-people exchanges. It should develop itself step by step and in a focused manner, choose the right direction of cooperation, speed up, expand, and upgrade opening up, accelerate the construction of infrastructure and major projects, in order to build Xinjiang into a comprehensive traffic hub, a center in trade and logistics, finance, culture, science and education, and medical service; an emerging base for processing, manufacturing, and energy; a channel for continental energy and resources.