Ethnic unity: The cornerstone of Xinjiang's prosperity and stability

Editor's note: Niluobaier Aierti, a special commentator for CGTN, is a lecturer at the School of Media and Communication, Xinjiang Arts University. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that fostering a strong sense of the Chinese national community is the central task of the Communist Party of China's ethnic work in the new era. The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has prioritized promoting interaction, exchange and integration among all ethnic groups, implementing a series of innovative and robust measures to enhance cohesion and unity among them. Facts have demonstrated that ethnic solidarity has become a critical guarantee for Xinjiang's social progress and prosperity.

Community co-construction: Sketching a new vision of unity

Communities and villages, as fundamental units of grassroots governance, play a pivotal role in promoting ethnic interaction, exchange and integration. In Xinjiang, these communities and villages are regarded as frontline platforms for advancing ethnic unity. Efforts are actively made to establish a modern governance structure characterized by co-construction, co-governance and shared benefits, enabling people of all ethnic groups to foster mutual understanding and forge profound bonds in their daily lives.

Taking Dijingge Village in Bole City, Xinjiang, as an example, this community is home to multiple ethnic groups, including the Han, Mongolian, Uygur, and Hui peoples. The governance of the village upholds the principle that "ethnic unity makes us family," skillfully integrating efforts to harmonize ethnic relations into daily administrative affairs. Through the concrete implementation of systematic initiatives such as the "Our Festivals" program, the village has effectively promoted integration among different ethnic groups, fostering a vibrant atmosphere of mutual support and harmony.

Villagers Jing Zeping and Tursunjan have voluntarily established the "Pomegranate Seed Migrant Work Team," which involves residents of all ethnic backgrounds in construction and technical services. Through the collective efforts of its members, the team has expanded its operations from initially serving within the village to gradually covering broader surrounding areas. It has become a vivid emblem of local ethnic solidarity and collaborative economic development.

Education empowerment: Cultivating a new force of unity and vitality

The development of education has always been a prioritized undertaking in Xinjiang, with particular emphasis on enhancing educational quality in remote rural areas and regions predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities. Through systematic implementation of targeted educational support programs, Xinjiang is striving to achieve an equitable distribution of high-quality educational resources. This effort has created valuable platforms where young people from various ethnic groups can study, grow, and advance together.

A prime example is the successfully held second edition of the Guangdong-Xinjiang "Pomegranate Seed Cup" Youth Football Invitational Tournament. Utilizing football as a powerful medium, the tournament brought together young participants from Guangdong and Xinjiang, enabling them to form lasting friendships while pursuing their shared passion for the sport. On the training ground and during matches, these youths from diverse ethnic backgrounds trained together, interacted constantly, and exchanged not only football skills but also joyful stories from their daily lives. Through these interactions, they gained a deeper understanding of each other’s customs and cultural traditions. Each reunion at the tournament further strengthened their bonds, allowing the seeds of ethnic unity to take root and flourish in the soil of youth.

Cultural integration: Building a shared spiritual homeland

Cultural interconnectedness among all ethnic groups constitutes the cultural DNA of the Chinese nation’s diverse yet unified civilization. Xinjiang has been actively fostering a shared spiritual homeland for the Chinese nation by extensively organizing cultural activities such as Folklore Cultural Festivals, Cultural and Art Exhibitions, and Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Preservation Initiatives.

A notable example is the "Xinjiang is a Wonderful Place" Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Assistance and Exhibition Event held in 2025 in Hetian, which brought together 383 intangible cultural heritage practitioners from across China to showcase 435 representative ICH projects. At the event, these inheritors enthusiastically exchanged insights and learned from one another's rich experiences and unique skills in safeguarding intangible heritage. Through this deep cultural engagement, they gained a stronger appreciation of the distinctive charm and profound significance of Chinese culture.

Economic development: Joining hands for a shared future

Ethnic unity is not only a crucial prerequisite for social stability in Xinjiang but also a core driver of economic progress. Indeed, ethnic solidarity and socioeconomic development are mutually reinforcing. In recent years, Xinjiang has achieved remarkable successes in key areas, including maintaining overall social stability, sustaining steady economic growth, and continuously improving living standards – all of which are attributable to the concerted, united, and relentless efforts of all ethnic groups.

A prime example is the Kashi Economic Development Zone, which brings together entrepreneurs and workers from different ethnic backgrounds who collaborate in factory construction, logistics development, and market expansion. The zone has become a vital window for Xinjiang's opening-up and a new engine for economic growth. In the first half of 2025 alone, the Kashi Economic Development Zone attracted investment exceeding 20 billion Chinese yuan ($2.8 billion), while total import and export volume increased by 35 percent year-on-year. These achievements reflect the wisdom and hard work of all ethnic groups and have tangibly raised income levels and improved living conditions for residents. Together, they compose an inspiring anthem of our times – a testament to how ethnic unity fuels economic prosperity.

Xinjiang's experience demonstrates that ethnic unity serves as a solid foundation, steadily supporting the grand structure of the region's prosperous and stable development. Moving forward, Xinjiang will continue to center its efforts on fostering a strong sense of the Chinese national community, following the Chinese path to addressing ethnic issues with distinct national characteristics, and offering valuable insights to other multi-ethnic countries around the world.

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