On March 24, a press conference announcing the release of the Annual Report on Chinese Borderlands (2020–2021) together with a symposium on the development of Chinese borderlands was held in Beijing. The event was co-hosted by the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies at the Chinese Academy of History, Social Science Academic Press, and the Office of Xinjiang Think Tank, all under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Some scholars attended it online.

The report was compiled by experts and scholars from nine academies of social sciences in borderland provinces and regions, the Party School of the Party Committee at Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and borderland research institutions in Hainan Province, who were organized by the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies.

Based on detailed statistical data and field investigations, the report is comprised of three parts, with three general reports and 15 sub-reports to elaborate on the overall socioeconomic development situation in Chinese borderland provinces and regions, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and Hainan Province during the period 2019-2020.

The three general reports in the first part shed light on weaknesses and problems in economic development in borderlands and proposed a strategic layout for the new era, while expounding on achievements in poverty alleviation and putting forward suggestions for effectively connecting to the national rural revitalization strategy.

In the second part, 11 reports were dedicated to comprehensively analyzing socioeconomic development in each borderland province and region based on their respective characteristics from 2019 to 2020. The third part, consisted of four reports, centered around the impact of COVID-19 on Chinese borderlands, the participation of Chinese borderlands in the “Belt and Road” initiative, socioeconomic development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Bay Area, and marine economy and the development of coastal areas and territorial seas.

According to the report, the economies of borderland provinces and regions grew steadily in 2020 despite complicated global scenarios, severe COVID-19 impacts, and daunting tasks of reform, development, and stability. The industrial structure continuously optimized, fiscal and financial support from the government was strong, people’s well-being kept improving, the employment situation remained stable, residents’ incomes continued to increase, and public service and security systems were ever more complete.

In addition, big strides were made in alleviating poverty, controlling pollution, and preventing and resolving major risks. Opening-up was furthered, as remarkable results were achieved in socioeconomic development in the borderlands, according to the report.

At the symposium, Xing Guangcheng, CASS Member, director of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, and editor-in-chief of the report, noted that advancing the development of Chinese borderlands solidly is an important task in the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025). In the new era, Chinese borderlands have fostered a series of favorable conditions and advantages, which should be fully utilized to enhance development efficiency and enable people of all ethnic groups in borderland regions to enjoy dividends brought by China’s prosperity, Xing said.