People dance in the ancient city of Kashi, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China,
Today’s Xinjiang is experiencing the best period of development in its history, according to a white paper issued by the Information Office of the State Council.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The document said solid steps have been taken to govern Xinjiang in accordance with the law, maintain stability through ethnic unity, strengthen cultural identity and bonds, bring greater prosperity to the region and its people, and develop Xinjiang from a long-term perspective.
“This has contributed to unprecedented economic and social development and significant improvement of people’s well-being, and brought a greater sense of gain, happiness and security to the people,” noted the white paper titled “CPC Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements.”
Stronger foundations for stability, peace and security have been built in Xinjiang, the document said, adding that a historic transformation from chaos to stability and from stability to good governance has been achieved in the region.
Since 2012, the central government of China has allocated more than 4 trillion yuan ($562.3 billion) in transfer payments to Xinjiang, including nearly 543.48 billion yuan in 2024 alone, according to the white paper.
Leveraging its natural resources and industrial capabilities, Xinjiang has accelerated efforts to develop a modern industrial system with its own unique advantages. The white paper mentioned that Xinjiang has been China’s top cotton producer for 32 consecutive years, with the mechanization rate in plowing, planting, and harvesting reaching 97 percent.
The white paper also noted that Xinjiang has consciously integrated its regional opening-up strategy into the country’s overall plan of opening up to the west, aiming to build a golden channel across the Eurasian continent and a gateway for opening up to the west.
It has accelerated the development of broader channels for opening up, having established 19 ports, including the Kunjirap Port, which is open all year round, according to the document.
The number of Xinjiang’s economic and trade partners increased significantly from a small handful in the 1950s to 196 countries and regions in 2012, and to 211 in 2024, the document added.
The white paper also noted that Xinjiang fully, accurately, and faithfully implements the Communist Party of China’s policy on freedom of religious belief by respecting people’s religious beliefs.
It administers religious affairs in accordance with the law, allows religious groups to manage their own affairs independently, and guides religions to be compatible with socialist society, said the document.
The document also pointed out that Xinjiang continues to improve its policies on promoting public health and has significantly increased its protection of people’s health.
“The average life expectancy of residents in Xinjiang rose from 30 years in 1949 to 77 years in 2024,” it said.
Xinjiang has improved its comprehensive preservation of cultural heritage, the document said, adding that the region has formulated plans for the protection of regional cultural heritage, and released local regulations to strengthen legal guarantees for preserving cultural heritage.
By 2024, Xinjiang was home to 195 institutions of cultural heritage protection at all levels, had 150 registered museums, and boasted 9,545 verified and registered immovable cultural relics, among which six were world cultural heritage sites and 133 were key cultural relics sites under national-level protection.
SOURCE: CGTN News