As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, CGTN recently conducted a global survey with 7446 respondents across 38 countries. The results show that respondents generally praise the impressive achievements in Xinjiang's economic and social development. There is a wide consensus that China's approach to governing Xinjiang has found a correct path for balancing development and security in border areas, effectively advancing Chinese modernization in Xinjiang, and maintaining social stability and long-term peace in the region.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xinjiang has made focused efforts to promote high-quality development, resulting in a notable boost to its overall economic strength and significant progress across various indicators. Xinjiang's gross domestic product (GDP) grew from 749.947 billion yuan (about $105.446 billion) in 2012 to 2,053.408 billion yuan (around $288.718 billion) in 2024, with an average annual growth rate of 7 percent, based on constant prices. During this period, over 70 percent of the annual public budget expenditure has been dedicated to improving people's livelihoods. A survey shows that respondents have a positive view of Xinjiang's socioeconomic achievements, with the top five accomplishments being: ongoing improvement in medical standards (82.1 percent), ensuring access to education for the public (81.7 percent), continuous development of infrastructure (80.8 percent), notable progress in ecological protection and governance (80.6 percent), and increased income levels for residents (80 percent). It is particularly noteworthy that, as one of China's regions once suffering from the largest and most severe levels of poverty, Xinjiang has successfully lifted all 3.0649 million rural poor out of poverty, solving the issue of absolute poverty that had troubled the region for millennia. According to the survey, 79.3 percent of respondents highly affirm the effectiveness of Xinjiang's poverty alleviation efforts, with even higher approval rates among respondents from Africa and South America, at 84.5 percent and 84.1 percent respectively.

Xinjiang has always been a region where multiple religions coexist and constitutes an integral part of the Chinese nation. Successive central governments in Chinese history have considered proper management of ethnic and religious affairs a foundation of governance in Xinjiang. Strengthening the sense of community for the Chinese nation is a key part of China's strategy for governing the region. In the survey, respondents strongly agree that China respects and protects religious freedom in Xinjiang, as well as effectively preserves the cultural heritage of all ethnic groups. Overall, 80.6 percent of respondents believe that the religious freedom of people from all ethnic groups in Xinjiang is protected. Among those aged 25-34 and 35-44, approval rates are 83 percent and 82.7 percent, respectively. Over 80 percent of respondents from Africa, South America, and Asia agree. Additionally, 83.1 percent of respondents recognize that Xinjiang's support for traditional festivals and folk customs of all ethnic groups has successfully preserved the region's cultural heritage.

When asked about their outlook on Xinjiang's development prospects, 63.8 percent of global respondents express confidence in the region's future. Among those aged 44 and under, confidence exceeds the average across all age groups. From a regional perspective, respondents from Africa, South America, and Asia show the highest confidence levels, all above the global average. The ten countries with the highest confidence levels are Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, India, Peru, and Mexico, each with confidence levels above 75 percent.

The survey was jointly conducted by CGTN and Renmin University of China through the Institute of New Era International Communication, involving 7446 respondents from 38 countries worldwide in the form of an online sample library survey. The surveyed countries include major developed nations and the Global South. The respondents are aged 18 to 65, and the sample aligns with the age and gender distribution of the population censuses in various countries.