This photo taken on Feb. 26, 2026 shows a scene at a Shehuo gala in Urumqi, northwest China"s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

　　When China unveiled its new five-year plan running from 2026 to 2030, phrases like AI, computing power and "smart economy" buzzed via news feeds. However, they tell only part of the story.

　　Running through this plan is another important thread. China"s vast frontier regions have assumed a more prominent role in the national masterplan to build a unified domestic market, strengthen energy security and expand opening up.

　　This emphasizes that the Chinese modernization endeavor is aimed at securing prosperity for all. Analysts say by featuring in core sections on transport, energy, digital infrastructure and regional integration, these frontier regions are being closely woven into China"s modernization tapestry.

　　"The strategic importance of Xinjiang, for instance, is heightened," said Zhang Bin, a national political advisor and deputy director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "With its location, resources and industrial base, it can serve as a key hub in China"s broader opening up."

　　The plan calls for continued expansion of westbound freight train services and accelerated development of port infrastructure. In this autonomous region in northwest China, the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the first in the country"s northwest border regions, is expected to see accelerated growth over the next five years, thus further boosting westward trade flows.