Xinjiang Seen Through Foreign Eyes

Seventy years ago, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region was established, a milestone on China's path to unity, development and shared prosperity. Today, its story is being told not only by the people living in this region, but also by those from afar who have visited and worked here, and felt the pulse of its culture and development.

Their thoughts on the region are not influenced by Western media. They come from vivid lived experiences. These are the reflections of four foreign experts whose lives have intersected with Xinjiang. Their stories, though different in focus, converge on a single truth: Xinjiang is a place where cultures meet, where tradition and progress walk hand in hand, and where human kindness bridges every difference.

Feeling part of a whole

Last year, in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, Italian scientist Francesco Faiola once wore a traditional Uygur embroidered hat after a colleague's playful suggestion. As he walked down the street, a tourist approached and asked him for directions in Mandarin clearly believing he was a local. "We joked that maybe I just had the right look," Faiola said. But beneath the humor was something deeper. "That hat was more than just clothing," he reflected. "It became a small but meaningful connection. It helped me feel welcomed and part of something."

For Faiola, that moment captured the spirit of Xinjiang: not a place of enforced assimilation, but of open and inclusive coexistence. "Sometimes, all it takes is a friendly gesture to bring people together. And that's what multicultural coexistence in Xinjiang is about and different groups live side by side and share their lives with openness and warmth."

This warmth echoed in the words of Spanish language expert Francisco Javier Ayllón Piquero, who has lived in China since 2001. "From the grasslands in the north to the mountains and rivers in the south, it's the warmth and kindness of the Chinese people I've met that have made the biggest impact on me," he said.

Australian sinologist Colin Mackerras has not set foot in China for five years, yet his memories remain vivid. "I encountered landscapes and experiences vastly different from the Western media reports," he said. "My first-hand observations inspired many books on Chinese ethnic minorities."

Common prosperity in action

When Ayllón visited Kashi, he was struck by something unexpected. "I saw many successful commercial and industrial projects from Guangdong," he said, a province thousands of kilometers away. This was his first real encounter with the Chinese concept of "pairing assistance," a national initiative since 1997 that channels financial, technical and human resources from more developed regions to support Xinjiang's growth.

"This experience helps deepen my understanding of the phrase 'Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all,'" Ayllón said. For him, this was not abstract policy, but lived reality: a system designed not to leave anyone behind.

Faiola also observed this balanced progress. "The transportation system is highly developed—highways, railways and air travel form an efficient network," he said. "Housing projects combine traditional design with modern comforts. Healthcare has seen major advances, with telemedicine improving local clinics. In education, bilingual teaching and vocational training are giving young people more opportunities than ever." He noted that public services operate in multiple languages. "It was clear that people from various backgrounds are interacting more and growing closer in their everyday lives."

Preserving culture with innovation

At the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, Faiola stood before a digital exhibit reconstructing ancient cave temples in 3D. "They're using technology to protect cultural heritage," he said. "This helps avoid damaging the actual sites through over-tourism, while letting more people experience the culture immersively."

Equally important is education. "Schools teach in both Mandarin and ethnic minority languages," Faiola said. "Students learn about diverse cultural histories through specially developed textbooks. This helps young people take part in modern society while still holding on to their own cultural identity. It's not about choosing one over the other," he said. "It's a thoughtful, balanced effort that benefits both."

Meanwhile, Mackerras emphasized a similar point. Despite their relatively small share of the population, China's ethnic groups are central to its identity. "As a Western scholar, I believe China's policies towards ethnic minorities hold valuable references for other countries."

Science sees no borders

The story of cooperation in Xinjiang is not only written in classrooms and cultural centers but also in laboratories. In Belgium, Professor Philippe De Maeyer still speaks with pride about the Sino-Belgian Joint Lab for Geo-Information, established in 2016 with the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG). His partnership with XIEG began in 2005, and for over a decade, he traveled annually to Xinjiang to teach and collaborate.

"Mutual understanding between people from cooperative parties plays a vital role in advancing collaborative progress. More than just research, the lab has become a bridge for young scientists. "Students were able to secure adequate funds to complete their education," he said. Under the mentorship of both Chinese and Belgian professors, they've published an increasing number of papers in high-impact international journals. "Researchers can acquire new working methods from different organizations," De Maeyer said.

"Today, the unbelievable speed of knowledge evolution requires constant exchanges and cooperation," he said. "We always need to communicate, to share, and to learn from one another."

Source: Science and Technology Daily