Zhao Deru

(Director, Research Office of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)

Author

Zhao Deru, Han ethnicity, is Director at the Research Office of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. His research areas include issues of agriculture, farmer and rural area, industrial economy, finance and taxation, and ecological environment.

Abstract

Building the Silk Road Economic Belt is a vital strategic adjustment and decision that the CPC Central Committee made in light of the world development trends and is based on China's national conditions. It will incontestably exert a major and profound influence on the Eurasian continent and even the global economic and political landscape in the 21st century. The Silk Road Economic Belt is not a mere rebuilding of the ancient Silk Road, but integrates economy, politics, diplomacy, national defense, energy and security. It is also a combination of China's strategy of opening to the west and its western region development project, as well as a major strategic plan that bears the wisdom of the past and current central leadership regarding economic and national security. Xinjiang enjoys a significant strategic status in the entire European and Asian economy. Since Xinjiang is a vital channel that connects Asia and Europe, we need to examine how to release its unique role in the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt with a global vision and from a strategic position, and map out our course of action, policies and measures, and goals and tasks. This paper elucidates the thoughts on building Xinjiang as the core zone along the Silk Road Economic Belt in five aspects.