Abstract
The article analyzes a number of expert opinions on the role of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in Chinese regional politics. The undeniable advantage of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) is its geographical location. That on XUAR accounted for 1/4 of the Chinese state land border, and it borders with the largest number of foreign countries (in comparison with other autonomous regions) determines the importance of its place in geostrategic plans of China. This geographical position allows to activate the policy of "going outside", that is, the policy of expansion and intensification international trade and economic relations of the country Central Asian, and further in the European direction. The main attention in the article is paid to the dynamic changes in the socio-economic development of the region as a result of the implementation of the state program of large-scale development of the western regions of China.