Ningxia rides BRI for greater opening-up dividends

Ningxia Hui autonomous region, a key pivot of the Belt and Road Initiative and a window for westward opening-up, saw its imports and exports reach 17.72 billion yuan ($2.64 billion) in the first eight months of 2026, up 23.9 percent year-on-year, as the landlocked region continues to build a higher-standard open economy.

Trade with emerging markets was particularly robust, with imports from and exports to Central Asia up 81.7 percent, Africa up 72.1 percent and Latin America up 50.8 percent. More than 40 distinctive local products entered overseas markets for the first time, according to the region's commerce department.

"Ningxia borders no foreign country, has no coastline and high logistics costs are the biggest constraint on its opening-up as an inland region," said Zhu Dong, deputy director-general of the department.

To overcome this, the region is building a multi-dimensional opening-up framework featuring eastward connectivity, westward exports, southward expansion, northward access and an air network, he said.

According to Zhu, over the full 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, Ningxia's cumulative imports and exports reached 103.2 billion yuan, with an average annual growth of 11.2 percent. Its trading partners now span more than 170 countries and regions.

Yinchuan-based Ningxia Qinlian Energy Group has built a cross-border bulk commodity trade platform, helping the region open northward, connect westward and energize the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor.

Qin Xiuguang, president of the company, said the platform helps domestic enterprises match with buyers in other countries directly. Contracts, logistics and customs clearance can be completed online.

Launched in July 2022, the platform now covers 25 Belt and Road partner countries, including Mongolia, Russia and countries in Central Asia and the Middle East.

Shizuishan-based Taijin Seeds uses demonstration bases abroad to adapt to international market demand. It has exported its vegetable seeds to 27 countries, including the United States, Turkiye and Egypt.

"Several Central Asian countries are now using our tomato, watermelon, melon, pepper and eggplant varieties," said the company's president Pei Xiaxiang.

Pei said the company has established technology transfer centers in Jordan and Kenya, and has worked with clients to build demonstration parks that conduct variety trials across different climate zones.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Ningxia hosted three editions of the China-Arab States Expo, which has become an important bridge for deepening economic and trade exchanges between China and Arab states.

Chen Fang, deputy director-general of the region's department of science and technology, said Ningxia has taken the lead in building a technology transfer center to create a highly efficient and pragmatic platform for technology transfer and innovation cooperation with Arab states.

"We have built six technology integration demonstration sites in Jordan, Oman, Egypt and other countries, promoting the integrated application in Arab states of 17 advanced and applicable technologies and equipment, including water-saving technologies for arid areas and photovoltaic smart agriculture," he said.

In Hongsipu district of Ningxia's Wuzhong, four smart solar greenhouses are using solar power, smart water circulation and precision climate control to turn arid land into year-round vegetable gardens.

According to Sun Zhaojun, president of Ningxia Wozhiyuan Technology Co Ltd, the technologies independently developed by the company have reached 13 countries, including Oman, Egypt and Qatar.

"At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, we grew 'World Cup'-quality turf in extreme heat," said Sun.

In terms of cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation, Ningxia has continued to broaden its overseas exchange and cooperation channels.

"We have shown to the outside world that Ningxia is rich in natural resources, steeped in cultural and historical heritage and full of development vitality," said Wu Yuguo, deputy director-general of the region's department of culture and tourism.

The region, with its distinctive mix of heritage, wine and desert landscapes, has gained rising attention following the UNESCO World Heritage listing of the Xixia Imperial Tombs in 2025.

The eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains have been recognized as a premium wine-producing region.

At Shapotou in Zhongwei, where the Yellow River meets the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, desert camps and "star hotels" have been introduced, allowing visitors to experience overnight stays and stargazing in the dunes.

Wu said that the department will implement the autonomous region's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and its plans for building an international tourism destination, advancing high-level culture and tourism to help push forward the region's overall opening-up.

Contact the writers at hudongmei@chinadaily.com.cn