Xinjiang aims to maintain social stability

Editor's note: This year, the Communist Party of China is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding. China Daily is publishing a series of stories looking at the tremendous changes that have occurred in provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities under the leadership of the Party. They also include stories of the people and places that have left indelible marks in the Party's path to glory.

Since the central government put maintaining lasting social stability as the top priority of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the region has introduced a series of measures to ensure the goal can be achieved to the letter, Chen Quanguo, Party secretary of the region, said in a written interview with China Daily.

"We have normalized measures to fight terrorism and maintain social stability in accordance with the law, and we have implemented innovative measures in social governance," Chen said.

"What's more, we have fully advanced China's law-based governance to cover all areas of work related to maintaining Xinjiang's stability. As a result, no violent terrorist attacks have happened in the region for more than four years. Meanwhile, the number of criminal cases and of those endangering national and public security have all dropped significantly. The efforts have given Xinjiang people a stronger sense of security," he added.

"More importantly, people from all ethnic groups here are more confident than ever about the region's social stability and long-term peace. Also, the benefits brought by having a stable social situation have continued to show. Both northern and southern Xinjiang are developing fast in stability."

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, especially since the 18th CPC National Congress, Xinjiang has made a series of major achievements: the overall social situation has been harmonious and stable; the regional economy has continued to develop healthily; people's lives have been significantly improved; ethnic unity has been boosted; and religions in the region have developed peacefully, Chen said.

He added that improvements in Xinjiang's socioeconomic development, as well as the improvement of people's livelihoods, have been unprecedented since the national congress. Xinjiang people's senses of fulfillment, happiness and safety have continued to grow, he said.

"Such achievements aren't only supported by people in Xinjiang, but also have earned many positive comments from international communities," he said.

Since 2018, more than 1,400 foreign officials from more than 100 countries－including United Nations officials, foreign diplomats, representatives from Islamic countries and heads of the representative offices in China and religious groups, as well as foreign reporters and social media influencers－have visited Xinjiang. In general, they have appreciated Xinjiang's socioeconomic efforts and the measures it has taken to fight terrorism and extremism, protect human rights and safeguard religious beliefs, he said.

Since the national congress, President Xi Jinping has attached great importance to Xinjiang projects. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has visited the region and made a series of key speeches and remarks regarding the region's efforts.

Further, the central government has set the region's governance strategy. "We see maintaining social stability and achieving long-term peace as the ultimate goal, and we are determined to implement Xinjiang's governance strategy accurately and completely," he said.

"We will govern it in accordance with the law and keep the region stable by further promoting ethnic unity. We encourage Xinjiang people from different ethnic groups to learn more about each other's cultures and help the region prosper by making people's lives better. Furthermore, we will make long-term efforts to develop the region," he added.

Chen said the region will continue to push forward high-quality development that will benefit people's livelihoods. By deepening reforms in key sectors, the power and vitality of Xinjiang's economic development has continued to grow.

It's important for the region to step up efforts to increase the efficiency of the industrial sector in Xinjiang, advance industrial transformation and upgrading and help boost the development of the service industry, he said.

"In addition, we will leverage the region's geographical advantages to develop Xinjiang as a core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt and as a hub of opening-up in the inland and border areas," Chen said.

"By coordinating epidemic control with socioeconomic development, the region has seen the steady growth of the economy as well as investments. Xinjiang's GDP has increased 12.1 percent year-on-year during the first quarter of this year, while the fixed asset investment has grown 29 percent year-on-year," he said.

More importantly, the regional government has successfully lifted more than 3.06 million people out of poverty. All 35 poverty-stricken counties have reached their poverty alleviation targets. The living conditions of formerly impoverished people have been significantly improved, Chen said.

Meanwhile, the region has introduced a series of measures to prevent people from falling back into poverty.

"We will upgrade industries that support poverty alleviation so people can earn more income. Also, we will help people find more job opportunities to either work near their home or elsewhere," Chen said.

"Xinjiang's development has always been people-centered. More than 70 percent of local governments' expenditures is directly used in projects that will improve people's lives, such as employment, education, social security and affordable housing."

During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period, 2.33 million jobs were created in urban areas, while laborers in rural areas took a total of 14.3 million jobs near their homes or elsewhere.

During the period, the gross enrollment rate of senior high schools reached 98 percent, and the region offered children in rural areas three years of preschool education for free.

Xinjiang has also stepped up efforts in environmental protection by strictly prohibiting projects in the region that result in high pollution and energy and water consumption.

"We will make sure people can see bluer skies, greener mountains and clearer waters in Xinjiang, which is famous for its grand beauty," Chen said.

Xinjiang's achievements are a result of the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the hard work of the region's people, he said.

"We will continue to stick to the top priorities of maintaining social stability, achieving long-term peace and building Xinjiang into a region in a new era that is united, harmonious, prosperous and culturally advanced, with healthy ecosystems and people living and working in contentment," he added.