Abstract: With the in-depth implementation of "the Belt and Road Initiative", more and more universities in western China participate in and carry out international education. Compared with provincial capital cities, non-provincial capital cities in western China have their own characteristics and advantages in carrying out overseas students' education, but they are more in a disadvantaged position. By using the SWOT research method in management discipline and analyzing the internal advantages, internal disadvantages, external opportunities and external threats, this paper explores the development strategies of foreign student education in western non-provincial cities based on SWOT analysis.

Key words: Western China, Non-provincial capital cities, Foreign student education, SWOT analysis