Converter station of the Changji-Guquan UHVDC transmission line project in Changji city, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Photo: Li Yawei/GT

Launched in 2003, China’s “Go West” program is a collaborative endeavor that aims to send university graduates to volunteer in education, health, agriculture and social management sectors in the country’s western region for a period of one to three years, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

According to the China Communist Youth League (CCYL) Central Committee, the program has played a crucial role in bolstering development in the western and northeastern parts of China. It has also assisted the country’s efforts to promote prosperity and stability in border areas, and facilitate the employment of university graduates, per Xinhua.

In the latest recruitment drive in 2025, the program attracted 410,000 applicants, with nearly 90,000 selecting Xinjiang as their first-choice destination, Xinhua reported.

Why are so many people willing to devote their talents to China’s western region? With this lingering question, the Global Times spoke with some of the participants and company recruiters of the program. Their insights revealed a profound truth that the program represents a mutual commitment – a two-way dedication between its initiators and practitioners.

‘Entrusted with a noble mission’

After graduating in 2024, unlike her peers navigating the corporate jungles of big-city CBDs, 25-year-old Xu Yanyi from Nanjing, East China’s Jiangsu Province, made a resolute decision. She journeyed over 3,650 kilometers to join a flagship national project – the Fukang pumped-storage power station, a key State Grid Corporation of China, which stands out as a proven and efficient method of maintaining grid stability. 

Nestled in Fukang city, the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, the station stands as the very first pumped storage facility to commence operation and generate electricity in Northwest China, per Xinhua.

The distance from Xu’s hometown to the station spans roughly 3,650 kilometers, involving first reaching Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang, followed by a two-hour-plus drive. For Xu, living away from home was difficult and challenging.

When her parents learned of her choice to go to Xinjiang, they were confused, but mainly worried. 

The power station lies deep within the Tianshan Mountains, a cold, arid, high-altitude region. Its upper reservoir sits at over 2,200 meters. For a newcomer from Nanjing, Xu also encountered challenges caused by local climate and time difference. “When I first arrived,” she said the parching dryness made her nosebleed every morning. “The sun sets much later here. Although I felt physically exhausted, I couldn’t sleep.”

Despite the challenges, Xu remains eager to apply what she has learnt at the station. “I’m eager to apply my knowledge in my role and unleash my potential.”

In her daily work, Xu is responsible for the operational management of the station’s equipment, overseeing unit operations and staying on 24-hour standby to respond promptly to any emergencies. After a year working at the station, she has now mastered how to operate the equipment and acquired fundamental troubleshooting skills.

As of March 6, 2025, the station’s units had accumulated nearly 13,000 hours of operation, a staff worker told the Global Times, noting that the total power generation exceeded 1.7 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), while total pumping consumption surpassed 2.1 billion kWh. 

When the station generated its first 1 billion kWh, Xu was on duty during a holiday. Recalling seeing the town lights glow, she felt profoundly moved. At that moment, Xu said she suddenly grasped the meaning of “serving the people.” 

“Each of us in our ordinary posts is a bearer of light, entrusted with a noble mission,” Xu said.

Abundant opportunities offered

Many graduates, like Xu, have chosen to serve in Xinjiang. While pursuing their aspirations in respective roles, they receive benefits and opportunities from the nation for their contributions.

Taking the year of 2024 as an example, for volunteers participating in the program, the central government provides subsidies ranging from 30,000 to 40,000 yuan ($4,164 to $5,552) per person, according to media site youth.cn.

Yin Hongxia, a staff member in charge of recruitment in a Xinjiang’s hydropower station, told the Global Times that beyond policy incentives, daily efforts are made to help graduates and young professionals feel a sense of belonging.

In addition, Xinjiang has rolled out enhanced talent policies and a 10-billion-yuan talent development fund to address workforce demands in building its 10 major industrial clusters, according to Xinhua.

In January this year, the region launched the PhD recruitment initiative, aiming to attract over 1,000 global doctoral experts, signaling intensified efforts to bridge expertise gaps, according to the report.

Cities across Xinjiang have rolled out substantial talent recruitment policies to attract professionals by offering support in living conditions, position salaries and research funding, according to the official website of Xinjiang human resources and social security department.

Sun Qia, a cloud computing graduate from Shanghai, chose to forge his career in Karamay city. He believes there are more opportunities in Xinjiang and more favorable policies compared to the saturated markets of southern cities, enabling better project development and implementation.

As June heralds yet another graduation season, Yin sees it as a vital infusion of new blood for the program – for once more, graduates ablaze with ideals stand ready to set their sights on China’s western frontiers.

“Go west, to the grassroots, to where the motherland and people need us most, is far more than a slogan, but a solemn pledge upheld by countless youth, empowered by the nation’s unwavering backing,” she said.