URUMQI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- During his maiden visit to northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Thai journalist Supachai Wuthichuwong was impressed by the local tasty food and diversified cultures.

The fruit in Turpan City are the best I have ever tasted, both fresh and dried! They are very delicious and very sweet, he said.

Apart from the fruit, the city's burgeoning "seafood" industry also surprised him, especially as the region is landlocked. He said that Xinjiang is far from the sea, but people are developing aquaculture. People can taste fresh seafood. "It's really amazing."

While visiting Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, the regional capital, Wuthichuwong tried on a purple patterned doppa hat. It's a region with a mixture of cultures. Xinjiang is really a peaceful and harmonious place, he said.

He said there are a lot of Thai tourists who want to come to Xinjiang because the culture, attractions and food are different from Thailand, adding that he expects more exchanges between China and Thailand, not only in cooperation projects and economic trade but also in people-to-people exchanges.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. Ho Lee Ping, deputy executive editor of Sin Chew Daily of Malaysia, called for more agricultural technology cooperation between the two countries, after being impressed by unmanned harvesting machines and large-scale farming in Xinjiang.

During his recent trip to Xinjiang, Beat Schneider, a Swiss writer and retired professor at Bern University of the Arts, was especially impressed by the happy faces and smiles of the people he encountered.

In Schneider's opinion, the various ethnic groups in Xinjiang are very satisfied with their lives. During his first trip to Xinjiang, he visited Urumqi, Kashgar Prefecture and Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture.

As China's development is becoming increasingly rapid, his interest in China is growing rather than diminishing. After visiting the comprehensive bonded zone in Kashgar, he said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has brought tremendous opportunities for the development of BRI participating countries.

Many Western reports are fake news of Xinjiang. The Western media's overwhelming focus on negative news about China is not objective journalism, said Schneider.

He said he would share these positive impressions and feelings with his family and friends in Switzerland and with the wider Western public. He would also tell the true story of Xinjiang, as well as China, through writing books or giving lectures. Enditem

(Intern Subati Subi contributed to the story.)

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