Shared culture helps build bridges

Though the cities of China's eastern coast have been the centers of commerce and economy in the past few decades, the Ningxia Hui autonomous region is emerging as a new driving force for development in the west through the revival of the ancient Silk Road trade route, local entrepreneurs say.

The landlocked autonomous region borders Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, placing it far from the coast, but at the same time, its location enables the region to act as a bridge between Central Asia and the Chinese hinterland.

"Ningxia was a vital overland route linking ancient China to the whole Islamic world in Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), and today, it is still an important part of the nation's 'going west strategy'," said Ma Xuezhong, chairman of the Dubai-based A&A Investments Holdings Group, which specializes in assets control and financial services.