Azzati Suritan

(Chairman, Xinjiang Writers' Association)

Author

Azzati Suritan, Uygur ethnicity, was born in Urumqi in 1950. He now serves as Chairman of Xinjiang Literary Federation as well as Deputy Secretary of its Party Group. He is also Chairman of Xinjiang Writers' Association. His book, A Study of Uygur Contemporary Literature, won the third prize at the Fourth China's Ethnic Books Award and the 6th Ethnic Minority Literature Award. His work, Development of Uygur Literature in the 20th Century, won the second prize of the Fourth Literary Criticism Award of China's Literary Federation in 2004, and History of Uygur Literature in the 20th Century won the first prize of the Achievement Awards of Philosophy and Social Science in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Abstract

A major section of the ancient Silk Road, Xinjiang is a place where four time-horned and heavily influential cultures meet and diverse ethnic cultures mix. After Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinjiang again drew the attention of the nation and even the world. A treasured land for China, Xinjiang now faces new development opportunities. The Silk Road Economic Belt is also a road of culture and unity. The restoration of the Silk Road in the 21st century should be focused on the function of culture and arts. Many important events in Xinjiang were related to the Silk Road, which evidenced the great influence and penetrability of culture. So, we should make good use of Xinjiang's cultural advantages to boost the exchange of culture and arts between countries along the road, especially folk culture and art, making the cultural concept of the Silk Road recognized by the public. The cultural treasures of Xinjiang will bring great potential to cultural industries along the belt as well as giving contemporary meaning to the development of those cultural industries. Over the past thousands of years, different civilizations have had dialogues, cooperations and exchanges on the Silk Road and gradually shaped a Silk Road culture featuring openness, tolerance, unity, equality and mutual benefits. In a word, we should develop the spirit of the Silk Road and actively boost the economic growth along the Silk Road.