Image by : Thomas Peter/ Reuters
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Another important motivation behind the Belt and Road Initiative is to encourage economic development in China’s Xinjiang autonomous region, thus tackling the major problems of its Western provinces, including separatism, radical Islamism and terrorism, ethnic conflict, and underdevelopment. The government mapped its plans in 2015, aiming to make good use of Xinjiang’s geographical advantages, to make it a key hub in transportation, trade, logistics, culture, science, and education.