The year of 2005 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In the past 50 years, Xinjiang has adapted itself into the tide of both domestic and international economic circulation though graphically located in the hinterland of Euro-Asian continent. The cotton yield in Xinjiang has maintained the top position in domestic market in successive years, exerting an influence on fluctuation of cotton price worldwide. This year Xinjiang boasts a cotton harvest once again, with the total output of 1.75 million tons in sight. However in 1955, the year the autonomous region was founded, the cotton output was merely 25,000 tons.

Apart from cotton, Xinjiang also boasts many "tops" in China, including the transaction volume of tomato sauce and hops as well as the output of saffron crocus and lavender. Xinjiang produced the most granulated sugar and contributed the most grains to the country among five northwest provinces.

Forming a pleasing contrast to oasis agriculture here, the modern industrial base stands in Xinjiang. Currently, many trades have been established in Xinjiang, including oil, petrochemical, coal, power, metallurgy, building materials, textile and food. There are 5,798 factories with relatively high technical arrangement, forming an industrial system of satisfactory variety and high turnout. The third largest oil field and the second natural gas field emerge in the desert in Tarim and Jungar basins. The country's six large gold production bases settle in the deep valley of Tianshan, Kunlun and Altay Mountains. The rich reserve of natural gas in southern Xinjiang best quenches the energy-thirst in Shanghi and Beijing via 40, 000 km pipelines, the West-East natural gas transmission project.

Xinjiang has realised a three-dimensional traffic and transport pattern since the new century. On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the autonomous region, two highways with a total length of 394 km opened to traffic. The total mileage in Xinjiang by the end of 2004 has reached 86,000 km, and railway operational mileage 3,000 km. Meanwhile Xinjiang is also the air traffic hub in China, with 96 domestic and international airlines, and operational mileage more than 110,000 km.

The busy scene of the north of Great Wall congested with non-Han retailers and pedlars reappeared along the Silk Road that has entered long silence for some 400 years. In 2004, the gross foreign trade volume in Xinjiang totaled 5.636 billion US dollars, 244 times more than that in 1978.

In the first half of July this year, local government made the strategic deployment to speedup the construction of a new-type industrial pattern, and a largest base of energy, petrochemical, cotton, forestry and fruits, tourism, non-ferrous metals as well as agricultural and sideline products. It is forecasted that the construction of several large industrial bases in Xinjiang will greatly push forward the process of building new-type industrialization, encourage the flow of talents, materials, capital as well as information into the west regions, turning the western inland province into an economic highland.

By People's Daily Online

Photo shows a long-distant view of Dabancheng Wind Power Station, the largest of this kind in China.

Photo shows the oil field in Taklimakan Desert shone red by fire.

A local farmer is drying grains in the sun. Xinjiang witnesses another good harvest this year.

Cotton grower in Xinjiang sells cotton to the state.

Two mu of grape in local Uygur farmer's home yields good harvest.

The 500 km-long highway built on desert traverses the Taklimakan Desert.

The annual Urumqi Foreign Economic and Trade Fair attracts businessmen from home and abroad.

Photo shows the oil city in Taklimakan Desert, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.