We should make full use of markets and resources both home and abroad to step up opening up in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and explore more development space, said Li Jianhua, an NPC deputy and secretary of CPC Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regional Committee, when he attending the third session of the 12th National People’s Congress on March 8.

Under the new normal, the impetus of Chinese economy has been shifted from investment to opening up, he mentioned. Over the past few years, Ningxia has achieved a lot in opening up, conducting foreign communication and exchanges and enhancing its influence, he said. As an inland autonomous region, Ningxia still needs to step up opening up and explore more development space during the development process, he stressed.

Ningxia possesses distinctive advantages in geographical location, resource abundance and national policy support, Li said. Ningxia locates in China’s geographical center connecting eastern and middle part of China with Hexi Corridor, Xinjiang, Mid-Asia and Europe. Ningxia possesses abundant resources and industries of coal chemistry and oil gas processing have taken shape there. In addition, the approval of the establishment of Ningxia Inland Opening-up Economic Pilot Zone and Yinchuan Comprehensive Bonded Area has greatly facilitated the opening up in the autonomous region, he added. The fact that Ningxia has held three sessions of China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum and one session of China-Arab States Expo also deepened communication and cooperation between China and Arab States in energy, finance, tourism, science and technology. As China’s largest habitation area of Hui ethnic group people, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has had historical sources and exchanges with Arab States since ancient times. The industries of coal chemistry, textile, IT, new energy, agriculture and cultural tourism have blossomed over the past few years, he added. All those elements have built up a solid foundation for deepening opening up in Ningxia.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative sets Ningxia as an inland opening-up economic pilot zone and Yinchuan being the pillar city along the belt. Following the orientation, we will construct aerial, online and land Silk Road and build up a demonstration area featuring China-Arab States international trade and investment facilitation, financial cooperation and cultural communication. We will lay more emphasis on holding the second China-Arab States Expo this year to seek more cooperation opportunities, Li said.

The newly released Ningxia Spatial Development Strategic Plan includes the design of industrial landscape, transportation system, water resources exploitation and space utilization in urban and rural areas. It will focus on improving the quality and efficiency of economic development, advancing industrial restructuring and promoting innovation in Ningxia to form 5 kinds of industrial clusters like modern agriculture, energy chemical industry and modern services, he said.

We will give full play to the role of market, step up reforms on key areas and create more driving force for opening up, he emphasized so with regard to Ningxia’s future development.