Media Trip in Xinjiang: Always More to Discover Launched

URUMQI - Media Trip in Xinjiang: Always More to Discover, hosted by Office of the Xinjiang Cyberspace Affairs Commission and GMW.CN, was launched in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Aug. 7th, 2024. Journalists from eight major Turkish media outlets will spend nine days in Xinjiang, visiting Urumqi, Ili, Aksu, and Kashi to document, write about, and share their experiences and stories about Xinjiang.

Photo taken on Aug. 7th, 2024, shows the launching ceremony of Media Trip in Xinjiang: Always More to Discover. (Zhang Zhou/Guangming Online)

At the launching ceremony, Zhang Jun, Director of the Office of the Xinjiang Cyberspace Affairs Commission, warmly welcomed the Turkish guests. Zhang stated that the Xinjiang Cyberspace Affairs Commission has been inviting foreign journalists and internet celebrities to visit Xinjiang for three consecutive years, producing over 400 new media products to showcase the region's achievements in reform, development, and stability. He emphasized that the beautiful image of Xinjiang, with its happy life visible everywhere from the northern to the southern Tianshan Mountains, can counter the lies about the region. He added, “We hope that everyone will come to understand Xinjiang through seeing it with their own eyes, tell the story of Xinjiang in different languages, and share a true Xinjiang with the world.”

Photo taken on Aug. 7th, 2024, shows Zhang Jun, Director of the Office of the Xinjiang Cyberspace Affairs Commission, giving a speech at the launching ceremony of Media Trip in Xinjiang: Always More to Discover. (Zhang Zhou/Guangming Online)

Yang Gu, President and Editor-in-Chief of GMW.CN, introduced the attendees to the international communication capacity building efforts of Guangming Daily and Guangming Online in recent years. He highlighted the creation of a multilingual, all-media communication matrix and the successful cooperation with Turkish media. Yang said, "We hope that the reports and stories about Xinjiang produced by our Turkish guests will be widely disseminated in Turkish society and online, allowing a more comprehensive and objective understanding of the real Xinjiang by the Turkish people and the international community.”

Photo taken on Aug. 7th, 2024, shows Yang Gu, President and Editor-in-Chief of GMW.CN, giving a speech at the launching ceremony of Media Trip in Xinjiang: Always More to Discover. (Zhang Zhou/Guangming Online)

Tunç Akkoç, Editor-in-Chief of Turkish media outlet Harici, who has visited Xinjiang multiple times, shared that each visit brings new insights. He noted that the eleven-member delegation is the first Turkish media group to visit Xinjiang following the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Akkoc said the group would witness the vivid practices of Xinjiang in building a high-quality core area of the Belt and Road Initiative. He emphasized that Xinjiang could be a significant factor in strengthening China-Turkey relations and that telling Xinjiang's story well will play an important role in fostering mutual understanding between the people of both nations. "We aim to better explain this region to the Turkish people and recognize the high potential it holds,” he stated, “I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Media Trip in Xinjiang: Always More to Discover, for making all this possible.”

Photo taken on Aug. 7th, 2024, shows Tunç Akkoç, Editor-in-Chief of Turkish media outlet Harici, giving a speech at the launching ceremony of Media Trip in Xinjiang: Always More to Discover. (Zhang Zhou/Guangming Online)

The delegation will delve into Urumqi, investigating and researching areas such as the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar and the Urumqi International Land Port Area to experience the region's economic prosperity and the broad prospects of trade and tourism. They will continue to Ili to experience the thriving tourism industry at Nalati Grassland and Liuxing Street and observe the forefront dynamics of opening up at the China-Kazakhstan Khorgos International Border Cooperation Center. In Aksu, the group will explore the Kizil Cave Murals in Baicheng County, King Palace in Kuqa, and Subashi Buddhist Temple ruins to delve into the cultural heritage of the ancient Silk Road. Finally, they will head to Kashi to visit the Ancient City of Kashi and the Fragrant Concubine Garden, experiencing the unique charm of southern Xinjiang. The goal is to comprehensively, accurately, and vividly showcase a beautiful Xinjiang characterized by unity, harmony, prosperity, progress, security, and ecological well-being.