An Analysis of Trade Structure between Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Central Asia for Economic Development

Abstract

Thepurpose of this study is to examine the potential for economic development ofcountries along the “New Silk Road” by analyzing the trade structure of XinjiangUyghur Autonomous Region and our results suggest that the effects of China'scoastal economic growth are spreading inland. We decompose trade structure intothree elements and analyze the changes in international trade structure betweenXinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and 5 Central Asian countries, withdisaggregated international trade data, the 8-digits level of HS. A comparativeanalysis of the trade data for 2008 and 2018 reveals that trade in Xinjiang'stextile industry has brought about changes in the trade structure due to theexpansion of newly traded products, and that trade in the electrical equipmentand machinery industries has brought about changes in the trade structure notonly by the expansion of existing traded products but also newly traded products.