What guarantees great achievements in Xinjiang

Editor's note: Bai Fan, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate researcher at the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a grand gathering in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which was held in Urumqi on September 25. This ceremony provided both domestic and international audiences with an opportunity to understand and reflect on the historical philosophies and experiences of the central authorities in governing Xinjiang, the history of the Communist Party of China's governance in the region, and the significant achievements in Xinjiang's development.

As the remarks given at the ceremony pointed out, Xinjiang is an inalienable part of China's territory. The long-standing tradition of "great unity" in Chinese civilization ensures that national unity will always be at the heart of China's core interests. China's central government has governed Xinjiang for over 2000 years, adapting its governance to local realities. The diverse ethnic cultures of Xinjiang are deeply rooted in the fertile soil of Chinese civilization. Throughout history, Xinjiang has consistently been an integral and vital part of China's unified, multi-ethnic nation.

With a systematic approach and dialectical thinking, such a philosophy of governance has driven historic achievements and changes in Xinjiang, guided the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to unite in building their homeland, and created a strong momentum for advancing modernization with Chinese characteristics in the region.

The ceremony also highlighted the remarkable achievements in governance in Xinjiang over the past 70 years. The region has coordinated development with security, prioritizing social stability. Xinjiang's lawful combats against terrorist activities have also yielded remarkable results, while a harmonious and stable social order safeguards the right to subsistence for all ethnic groups in the region.

Xinjiang has promoted the building of a shared sense of national identity, accelerated the creation of a cultural home shared by all Chinese people, strengthened exchanges and integration among ethnic groups, effectively protected their cultural heritage and better met the cultural needs of people across the region.

Progress has also been made in poverty alleviation, employment, education, health services and social security. The fruits of development are being shared more equitably among all ethnic groups, and Xinjiang's high-quality economic and social development has ensured that the right to development is realized for everyone in the region.

In sum, the great achievements in governance in Xinjiang can be attributed to three key factors. First, the CPC and the Chinese government attach great importance to Xinjiang and show great concern for its people of all ethnic groups.

Xinjiang is not only China's northwestern frontier, but also a vital gateway for China's opening up to the West. Its social stability and development, along with the well-being of its diverse communities, are crucial to building a strong nation and achieving national rejuvenation.

Furthermore, the region's significant achievements in governance fully demonstrate the strengths of China's socialist system. The CPC, playing a leading role in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties, has consistently adhered to a people-centered development philosophy.

The CPC and the Chinese government have remained responsive to the development needs of all ethnic groups, worked to safeguard and improve livelihoods through the region's development and treated people's well-being as the highest human right.

Additionally, Xinjiang is deeply engaged in forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. This effort, as the theme of all undertakings in Xinjiang, guides people of all ethnic groups to jointly forge a strong sense of the Chinese nation as one community with a shared future, in which all ethnic groups share weal and woe and go through thick and thin together.

The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang share a sense of brotherhood, supporting one another and clinging together like pomegranate seeds, building a shared cultural home for the Chinese nation.

The past 70 years of development have not only brought benefits to all ethnic groups in Xinjiang but also generated valuable experience that can serve as a reference for border governance in developing countries. This experience has contributed Chinese wisdom, practices and solutions to the world's human rights governance.

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