Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Au- tonomous Region is playing a role as China’s bridgehead for the westward opening-up, according to a senior official at a press briefing in Beijing.
　　The second China-Eurasia Expo, to be held during September 1-5 in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, will improve China’s opening up to the west and meanwhile boost economic and cultural exchanges between China and Eurasian countries, said Shi Dagang, Vice-Chairman of Xinjiang.
　　The expo, with Xinjiang’s geographic advantages as linking China’s east and west and opening up to the west, will help form the new pattern of China’s openness in the inland and the coastal areas simultaneously, said Li Jinzao, Vice Minister of Commerce at the press briefing, adding that “It will accelerate Xinjiang’s opening up and modernization, deepen the region’s ties with Eurasian countries.”
　　The forthcoming expo, themed with “harmonious development, win-win cooperation”, will showcase competitive products from China and other Eurasian countries, promote investment policies and tourist environment of the participating countries.
　　Compared with the first expo held last September in Urumqi, this year’s expo have several highlights, said Shi. First, summit diplomacy continues to play an important role. A comparable number and rank of Chinese and foreign leaders will be invited to the expo for a series of summit diplomacy activities.
　　Second, more exhibitors, purchasers and visitors will attend the expo. More than 5,000 purchasers are expected to participate in the expo, up 25 percent year on year. Business as- sociations from foreign countries like Russia and the Netherlands will become the new international organizers of the event. Domestically, nearly 21,000 companies from 30 provinces or municipalities will also participate in the event, up 5 percent year on year.
　　Moreover, the expo will be richer in contents, with six major pavilions, including the Pavilion of Overseas Products, the Pavilion of China, the Pavilion of Xinjiang, the Pavilion of Professional Products, the Pavilion of Hightech Parks, and the Pavilion of Economic and Technological Development Zone. New professional exhibitions including auto show with independent IPRs and new energy source, China’s overseas economic and trade cooperation zone show and China-Eurasia publishing expo will also be held. The total exhibition area increases to 89,000 square meters.
　　Still, during the expo, a series of promotional activities will be held, including ChinaEurasia Economy Development and Cooperation Forum, ministerial-level forums, and China and Foreign Culture Presentation Week.
　　Xinjiang boarders on 8 countries, covering an area of 1.66 million square kilometers, onesixth of China’s total land area. It is an important channel for the ancient Silk Road and the necessary point at the new Eurasia Continental Bridge. In addition to its picturesque scenery and plentiful resources, Xinjiang is the unique place where four major ancient cultures of mankind meet together.
　　According to Shi, in 2011, Xinjiang achieved a GDP of RMB 657,454 billion, up 12 percent year on year and 2.8 percent higher than the national average growth rate. Its total volume of imports and exports amounted to $22.822 billion, up 33.2 percent year on year and 10.7 percent higher than the national average.
　　The first ChinaEurasia Expo attracted nearly 320,000 visitors within five days, including over 20,000 domestic businessmen and 4,000 international purchasers. The trade value during the expo totaled over$5.5 billion. The expo was upgraded from the 19-year-old China Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair in 2010.