The camel milk industry has become a new catalyst for economic growth in Huocheng County of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, boosting local herders' employment and income.
Located at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang's Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, the county boasts vast natural grasslands and pristine water sources.
Capitalizing on these unique natural assets, the county has established a new development pattern centered on specialized livestock farming and ecological tourism.
Building on its traditional livestock cultivation, the county has boosted the camel milk industry by developing standardized breeding bases through a model integrating enterprises, cooperatives and local herders.
During the process of industrial upgrading, Huocheng County's leading camel milk processing enterprise has taken active steps to adopt updated national standards for camel milk products, producing pure camel milk powder based on organic breeding practices.
These products have been sold nationwide through both online and offline channels, with select premium products entering international markets via cross-border e-commerce.
"This year, we have actively adopted the updated national standards for the camel milk industry, launching a pioneering 'triple organic' pure camel milk power certified for pasture, milk sources, and processing methods. Our sales exceeded 100 million yuan (about 14 million U.S. dollars) within one year. Meanwhile, we have also actively supported stable employment for local herders, whose average monthly income now reached over 6,000 yuan," said Wang Xixian, CEO of Fengcao Pasture Dairy Company.
Camel milk industry becomes new growth driver in Xinjiang
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia is fully prepared and willing to negotiate with Ukraine at a U.S. military facility in Anchorage, Alaska, while his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a face-to-face meeting.
Putin noted that Russia is ready to accept those compromises discussed by the Russian and U.S. leaders during their Anchorage meeting last August, but stressed that Ukraine must also consent, and then the conflict will quickly come to a natural conclusion.
Ukraine has previously rejected the Anchorage framework, as it calls for Ukraine to cede territory.
Russia's Presidential Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev said at the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Thursday that despite efforts by forces seeking to prolong the war to disrupt talks between Russia and the U.S., bilateral engagement on Ukraine has made substantive progress.
Dmitriev dismissed reports that Russia-U.S. contacts have stalled, accusing other European nations of spreading disinformation to hinder the peace process.
Dmitriev also said that on Wednesday he had spoken by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner and discussed bilateral economic cooperation.
He said the U.S. side had underscored the need to embrace peace rather than engage in constant provocations and confrontations.
The U.S. has been pushing for peace and Ukraine should join the process, Dmitriev noted, adding there were plans for further contacts with Witkoff and Kushner next week.
Later on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published an open letter to Putin, proposing to end the conflict through direct talks between the two leaders.
Relevant parties, including European countries and the U.S., should be part of the peace negotiations, the letter stated.
Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire during the talks and proposes an exchange of prisoners of war on the principle of "all for all," Zelensky also said in the letter.
Russia ready to talk with Ukraine at U.S. military base: Putin
