ThePaper.cn:

In recent years, Xinjiang's economy has developed rapidly. At the same time, people are paying increasing attention to matters affecting their daily lives, such as their children's schooling and their family's health care, and other issues that touch every household. How has Xinjiang ensured that its rapid economic development delivers tangible benefits to the people? Thank you.

Wang Gang:

I will answer this question. The true measure of the effective implementation of the CPC guidelines for governing Xinjiang in the new era is how they benefit the people. The Marxist view of the people holds that the people are the main actors of history, the creators of material and spiritual wealth in society, and the decisive force behind social transformation. As we all know, the fundamental purpose of the CPC is to serve the people wholeheartedly, and its aspirations and founding mission is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. It is for this reason that the CPC and the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have been working diligently together to bring about tangible changes in people's lives.

Bringing benefit to the people is the fundamental principle of governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that "the people's aspiration for a better life is our goal." Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has put forward a people-centered development philosophy, acted for the people and relied on the people in everything it has done, always putting the people first and striving for their aspirations for a better life, and ensured that the fruits of reform and development offer greater benefits to all the people in a fairer way.

The CPC guidelines for governing Xinjiang in the new era have made it clear that we must uphold the people-centered development philosophy, and advance economic and social development while improving people's well-being so that people of all ethnic groups live and work in peace and contentment. Earlier, Mr. Chen highlighted a number of economic achievements. Whether in terms of convenient transportation, expanding tourism, or increasing import and export, these achievements ultimately translate into tangible growth in income and visible changes in people's lives. Under the CPC guidelines for governing Xinjiang in the new era, Xinjiang has made it a priority to ensure that development improves people's well-being, benefits local communities, and strengthens unity. We are committed to solving the most pressing and immediate concerns of the people of all ethnic groups, ensuring that the fruits of development offer greater benefits to all ethnic groups in a fairer way. Specifically, the living conditions of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have continuously improved, and their quality of life has significantly increased. I would like to illustrate this progress from three aspects.

First, in terms of poverty alleviation. Xinjiang was once one of the areas with the highest incidence and intensity of poverty in all of China. After the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the region prioritized the fight against poverty, pooling the best of its resources and adopting targeted measures to end poverty through hard work and perseverance. By the end of 2020, Xinjiang's impoverished rural population had all emerged from poverty. After finally eradicating absolute poverty that had once plagued Xinjiang for millennia, the region was able to achieve a moderately prosperous society in all respects, alongside the rest of the country.

Second, in terms of employment. Xinjiang prioritized expanding employment as the foundation for ensuring people's wellbeing. While vigorously promoting economic growth and increasing job opportunities, the region has continuously enhanced its institutional framework to achieve high-quality full employment and protect the rights and interests of workers. Employment rates in Xinjiang are continuing to improve, alongside ongoing enhancements in the employment structure. Meanwhile, the incomes of both urban and rural residents continue to rise steadily. Xinjiang's commitment to achieving high-quality full employment is steadily enhancing the well-being of people from all ethnic groups across both sides of the Tianshan Mountains. 

Thirdly, in terms of social security. Social security is a basic institutional guarantee for safeguarding and improving people's lives, ensuring social equity and enhances their sense of wellbeing. It plays the role of a safety net for people's livelihoods, serving as an income distribution regulator, and an economic stabilizer. It is a vital component of state governance and an essential safeguard for national stability. Xinjiang has placed the improvement of its multitiered social security system in a prominent position and accelerated the development of a robust safety net to safeguard people's well-being. In Xinjiang, a social security system has been established to guarantee access to education, employment, housing, medical services, and elderly care. It has continuously made life better for people of all ethnic groups living in the region

Next, officials from Xinjiang will share the living conditions of people in the region. I would like to say that journalists should go to Xinjiang. They should go themselves and stand by the side of the local people. Microphones, eyes, ears, and keen observation will enable them to learn of people's living conditions. See how they live there, including their housing situations, diet, their sense of security, and you will gain an understanding. Only with a thorough understanding can they depict in writing a true, three-dimensional, and comprehensive Xinjiang; only with a thorough understanding can they know the real living situations of the local people. So I genuinely recommend you to go to beautiful Xinjiang. Take a look, interact with the happy people there, and then tell the world about the true Xinjiang. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Mr. Erkin Tuniyaz will share more information.

Erkin Tuniyaz:

Let me add one point. What Mr. Wang Gang just said comes from his personal experiences and feelings, because he has visited Xinjiang numerous times for inspection and research. With a deep affection for Xinjiang, he reached this conclusion through comparing the past and the present. Xinjiang has won the critical battle against poverty, lifting 3,064,900 people out of poverty. The progress and changes in Xinjiang are reflected in daily work, life and travel of local people, especially in southern Xinjiang. I myself am an official born and raised in southern Xinjiang. Comparing the past and the present, southern Xinjiang has undergone tremendous changes, which is an outstanding achievement. Those changes can be felt from the eyes, smiles, and looks of the local people. I once worked in Hotan prefecture. At that time, the streets in Hotan were full of donkey carts. Today, donkey carts belong to museums. Families get around on e-bikes, motorcycles or cars — and some families even have several cars. The sense of happiness can truly be felt among local people. Those who return to Xinjiang after several decades from their first visit, will be amazed at the changes they witness in the region. Therefore, I sincerely welcome journalists, especially those who have never been to Xinjiang before. Come and see more, take a walk and have a look around. Seeing is believing. Only after seeing it in person can they feel the charm of a beautiful Xinjiang. It is particularly worth mentioning that at the end of last year, the Ahe Highway opened to traffic. Renowned for its stunning beauty, the road has soon become as popular as the Duku Expressway. Journalists are welcome to visit both northern and southern Xinjiang, and use your pens and cameras to record and reflect a true, changing, and objective Xinjiang.