RRI.CO.ID, Medan - Under the coordination of the Chinese Consulate General in Medan, a prominent Islamic delegation from Northern Sumatra and Aceh has commenced a week-long visit to China. Running from May 11 to 17, 2026, the diplomatic mission includes visits to Beijing as well as Urumqi and Kashgar within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The delegation aims to strengthen exchanges in the fields of religion, education, and culture while deepening the friendship between the people of China and Indonesia, Antara reported.

The group features several high-ranking figures, including the Rector of the State Islamic University of North Sumatra (UINSU), Nurhayati, and the Rector of the University of Muhammadiyah North Sumatra (UMSU), Agussani.

Also joining the mission are Chairman of the North Sumatra Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Maratua Simanjuntak, and Abdul Malik Musa, who serves as the Chairman of Muhammadiyah Aceh. Furthermore, the delegation includes Chairman of the Minangkabau Natural Customary Institution (LKAAM) West Sumatra, Fauzi Bahar, along with the General Chair of the Indonesia-China Cultural Association (INTI) Indra Wahidin.

The delegation arrived in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, on Monday, May 11. As the largest administrative region in China, Xinjiang is strategically positioned as a vital junction of the ancient Silk Road and a core component of the modern Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Despite the region following Beijing Time, the delegation noted the unique geographical time difference; at 8:00 PM Beijing time, the sun is just beginning to set in Xinjiang, reflecting its far-western location.

Urumqi has transformed into a major logistics hub through the Urumqi International Land Port Area, which connects China to Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe via rail. The city is also expanding its international aviation capabilities at Diwopu International Airport to reduce cross-border logistics costs.

Beyond trade, the city has become a premier tourism destination, marked by significant milestones in recent years. Urumqi achieved record growth in the first half of 2025 alone, welcoming over 50 million tourists and ranking among China's top three most popular summer travel destinations.

This success is supported by a commitment to cultural modernization, where iconic sites like the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar have been updated to offer multi-language services and seamless cross-border payment options for the convenience of international visitors.

Following their stay in Urumqi, the delegation is scheduled to conduct field visits and exchange programs across Xinjiang to observe firsthand the region's social development and multi-ethnic cultural preservation. ***