Xinjiang bolsters foreign-related rule of law to support high-level opening-up along the Silk Road Economic Belt

In recent years, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has stepped up efforts in institutional development, delivery of legal services, rule-of-law exchanges and talent cultivation. These efforts aim to comprehensively advance the region’s foreign-related legal framework and provide strong legal safeguards for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and deeper pragmatic cooperation between China and Central Asian countries.

Improving institutions

To accelerate the development of the Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), the region issued the Regulations of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone in 2025. The regulations call for the establishment of a diversified commercial dispute resolution mechanism aligned with international standards. By integrating negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation, the framework ensures smoother dispute resolution.

Centering on the development of the pilot FTZ, the Justice Department of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has promoted the enactment of key local regulations, including the Regulations on Promoting Port Economy Development and the Regulations on Optimizing the Business Environment. These documents provide market entities with a stable, transparent and predictable institutional environment.

The department has also systematically reviewed the legal systems of the five Central Asian countries and compiled investment guidelines and risk-response strategies, offering clear legal guidance for local enterprises engaged in cross-border investment and trade and mitigating the legal risks associated with their "going global" initiatives.

Strengthening legal safeguards

While stepping up efforts to engage internationally and attract foreign partners, Xinjiang has sent an official delegation to Kazakhstan, marking the first official exchange between the two sides in the judicial administration field. Additionally, the region has hosted the "Shanghe Youth" Advanced Training Program for legal professionals from member institutions of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Law School Alliance, enhancing the international profile of Xinjiang's rule-of-law culture.

In terms of foreign-related legal exchanges and cooperation, Xinjiang has held events such as the China (Kashgar)-Central and South Asia Forum on the Rule of Law (2025) and the China-Central Asia Conference on Exchanges and Mutual Learning of the Rule-of-Law Civilizations. It has also established the China-Central Asia Legal Education Alliance and the Xinjiang Branch of the “Belt and Road” Business Environment Institute. These initiatives have fully demonstrated Xinjiang's active role in regional rule-of-law exchanges and cooperation.

To support local enterprises going global, Xinjiang has held multiple exchange sessions on legal risk response at the Silk Road Economic Belt Legal Services District, and supported local law firms in setting up over 10 overseas service outlets in Central Asia. Through cooperation with institutions in Nanjing and other cities, Xinjiang has gradually built a region-specific foreign-related legal service system featuring multi-provincial collaboration, a focus on Central Asia and nationwide service coverage.

To improve its capacity for foreign-related legal service delivery, Xinjiang has long supported the China-Eurasia Expo and continuously improved its foreign-related business environment. During the 9th China-Eurasia Expo, the Xinjiang Lawyers Association offered tailored legal support through a professional team of more than 40 foreign-related lawyers proficient in English, Russian and Kazakh. These professionals provided round-the-clock assistance, addressing key issues such as cross-border contract review, overseas investment compliance, international e-commerce dispute resolution and intellectual property rights protection.

Talent cultivation

Recognizing that a robust foreign-related legal framework is underpinned by a strong talent pool, Xinjiang has prioritized talent cultivation as part of its broader efforts to promote foreign-related rule of law.

Xinjiang University has introduced a comprehensive undergraduate-to-doctoral program in international law. In collaboration with relevant government departments, the university has established specialized centers for ascertaining laws of countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt, as well as training bases, creating a well-rounded talent cultivation mechanism integrating the government, industry, academia, research and application.

Proposed by the Law School of Xinjiang University, law schools from nine local universities, including Shihezi University and Xinjiang Normal University, have jointly established the Xinjiang University Alliance for Foreign-Related Legal Talent Cultivation. The alliance aims to nurture legal professionals to meet the needs of national development and regional priorities.

Since 2025, Xinjiang has rolled out a plan for cultivating foreign-related legal professionals and organized two-way personnel exchanges between universities and legal practice entities. Currently, the region boasts more than 500 foreign-related legal professionals and a growing pool of 61 recognized experts in the field. A professional, multilingual talent echelon tailored for China‑Central Asian economic and trade cooperation has taken shape.

For professional training, Xinjiang has established the Foreign-Related Talent Training Center (Urumqi) under the China-SCO National Institute for International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation as well as the Urumqi Foreign-Related Rule-of-Law Training Center of the China-SCO Institute of Economy and Trade. Multiple sessions of specialized training programs have been held, providing key platforms for talent development.

To develop talent in a tiered manner, the region’s justice department has launched a "5-6-7" project for cultivating foreign-related legal professionals. The project aims to train 50 specialist lawyers proficient in foreign languages such as English and Russian; organize no fewer than five rounds of online-offline training on foreign-related legal services for 600 lawyers across the region; and conduct one to two rounds of foundational foreign-related legal service training for the region’s 7,000 full-time lawyers.

Through proactive top-level planning and innovative local practices, Xinjiang's foreign-related legal service capacity and regional influence in the rule of law continue to grow. Leveraging its strategic position as the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, the region will continue to deepen foreign-related rule of law development and provide sustained legal support for high-level opening-up, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and all-round, mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Central Asian countries.