Russian community in a North-Western Chinese province of Xinjiang has made a considerable contribution to the historical and political development of this region, as well as in economic and cultural life of Xinjiang. However, in 1960, almost all Russians left Xinjiang for Western countries or the Soviet Union. In the 20th century, the Russian represented the major part of the local middle class and small businesses because of their absence among the indigenous population. Their relations with the Uighurs, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, and the Chinese have varied according to time and situation, but in general, were quite complex phenomenon. The Western European, Russian and Chinese historians formed different interpretation of the development of the Russian community and its contribution to development of Xinjiang.
