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Unswervingly writing a brilliant new chapter in the common prosperity and development of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region

The day 1 October 2005 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Over the past 50 years, the people of all ethnic groups in this region have united, struggled, and made brilliant achievements for the cause of socialist revolution and the cause of construction under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] and under the brilliance of the party's self-governance policy for the autonomous region. Xinjiang has seen earthshaking changes and has demonstrated its vigour and liveliness with which the region walks towards modernization, towards the world, and towards the future.

Economic, industrial progress

In 1949, Xinjiang was peacefully liberated. Under the leadership of the CCP, Xinjiang has undergone profound social changes and has entered an epoch-making period in the history of its development. On 1 October 1955, the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region was founded, creating a new chapter in the history of Xinjiang's development. Over the past 50-plus years, all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have undergone democratic reform under the leadership of the CCP, have achieved political equality among all ethnic groups, and have created and developed a socialist ethnic relationship characterized by equality, unity, reciprocal assistance, and harmony. All ethnic groups in Xinjiang have adhered to self-governance in minority ethnic areas, have conducted socialist revolution and construction, and have achieved great leaps in social and historical development. Since the third plenary session of the 11th CCP Central Committee, cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have held high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thinking of the "Three representations," [Chinese: san ge dai biao; on the importance of the communist party in modernizing the nation - representing the demands for the development of advanced social productive forces, the direction of advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the greatest majority of the people] have consistently regarded economic construction as the central task and have continuously strengthened reform and opening up. The economy of the autonomous region has developed in a sustainable, rapid, and healthy manner. The appearance of urban and rural areas has changed rapidly. Society is stable, all ethnic groups are united, and border defence is reinforced. All ethnic groups enjoy their lives and all causes are prosperous.

The national economy has developed in a sustainable and rapid manner and the people's standard of living has been noticeably improved. In 2004, the GDP for this autonomous region was RMB 220bn, 42 times higher than in 1955. The total revenues for this autonomous region were RMB 32.9bn. Local general budget revenues were RMB 15.5bn, 91 times higher than in 1955. Agricultural production has developed continuously. The output of major agricultural products has largely increased. Total production value for the agricultural industry in 2004 exceeded RMB 75bn, 17 times higher than in 1955. Total output of grain was 8.28m tons, up nearly six times over 1955. Total cotton output was 1.75m tons, up nearly 70 times compared with 1955. Xinjiang has become the largest production base for commodity cotton in China. Modern animal husbandry industry has developed in a steady manner. This industry accounts for an increasing percentage of agriculture production in this autonomous region. Total area for forests, fruit, and gardening projects with Tarim Basin as an important production base exceed 10 million mu. This autonomous region contains a zone of high-quality forest products and fruit with unique characteristics. This autonomous region began to develop industrial production from nothing. Now, this autonomous region has a complete system of modern industry, including the petroleum and natural gas industry, petrochemistry, iron and steel industry, coal, metallurgy, mechanical industry, electric power, light industry, textile, food, construction materials, and nonferrous metals industry. Rapid economic development has largely increased the people's standard of living. Particularly over the past 20-plus years since reform and opening up, the people and the masses of all ethnic groups in this autonomous region have received more benefits than in any other previous period. People's material lives here have improved more rapidly in this period than in another previous period.

Infrastructure construction has speeded up and the ecological environment has continuously been improved. Between 1955 and 2004, accumulated investment in fixed assets was roughly RMB 800bn, nearly 90,000 projects were completed, and a large quantity of productivity was created. Since the founding of the autonomous region, Xinjiang has promoted large-scale construction of farmland water conservancy. A large number of water conservancy projects have been completed. This construction has greatly improved the condition of agricultural production. Railway transportation was put in place and has been developed continuously. Many railroads have been built, including the Lan-Xin Railway, the South Xinjiang Railway, and the North Xinjiang Railway. By the end of 2004, rails in use totalled 3,000km. The total of ordinary roads open to traffic was at 90,000km. Top quality and express roads totalled 1,200km. The Xinjiang civil aviation administration currently owns 11 airports and one all-weather backup airport in the autonomous region. The total number of air miles opened up is 110,000 km . The power industry has developed rapidly. A large number of important power plants have been established. Power generation capacity for this autonomous region has soared from 55m kW/h in 1955 to the current level of 26.6bn kW/h. Rapid development has been made in the post and telecommunications industry. A modern telecommunications system -comprised of programmed exchanges, fibre-optic telecommunications, digital microwaves, satellite telecommunications, and mobile telecommunications -has been established. Since the implementation of the West China Development Project, the national government has increased capital investment and support in Xinjiang. Between 1999 and 2004, total fixed asset investment in Xinjiang grew 18 per cent annually to RMB 487.6bn. The West-to-East NG Transmission Project, a symbol of the West China Development Project, has been completed and been put into operations. Comprehensive treatment of the drainage area of the Tarim River has begun to be effective. Infrastructure construction for water conservation, transportation, and energy has moved to a new period of rapid development.

Reform and opening up has continuously ascended to higher levels. We have meticulously implemented strategies and policies issued by the Party Central Committee and the State Council on economic systematic reform. We have steadily accelerated reform of the rural economic system and reform of state-owned enterprises, logistics, foreign trade, pricing, banking, financing, administrative management, and the social security system. We have initially constructed a new framework for the economic system that meets the needs of the socialist market economy and have accelerated development in the socialist market economy. We have consistently carried out a comprehensive opening up strategy that is characterized by "uniting the east, going out from the west, coming in from the west, and going out to the east" and that unites "bringing in" with "going out." We have fully brought geographic advantages into play in opening up West China and have consistently completed a comprehensive, multiple-level and extensive opening up pattern. We have promoted trade, economic and technological exchanges, and cooperation with foreign countries on an increasingly large scale. We have established trade relations with more than 100 countries and regions. In Xinjiang, there are 17 Class-A ports, 11 Class-B ports and three national-level development zones. Xinjiang is opening up to foreign countries on an increasingly high level.

The strategy of making Xinjiang prosperous through science and technology has been comprehensively implemented and leap-and-bound development has been made in all social projects. By the end of 2003, SOEs [state-owned enterprises] and state-owned nongovernment institutions employed over 480,000 technical professionals in all fields, 502 times greater than in the initial period after the founding of the autonomous region. Over the past 50 years, the autonomous region has made 8,096 significant scientific and technological achievements in the natural sciences, technology, and soft sciences. Among these achievements, 3,697 were given awards by the national government or the autonomous region government. We have consistently placed education in a strategic position. We have consistently given priority to the development of education to speed up the development of the education project. By the end of 2004, there were 28 ordinary colleges and universities, 183 mid-level professional schools, 1,965 ordinary middle schools and 5,451 elementary schools in Xinjiang. As high as 98.79 per cent of school-aged children go to school. Conditions for medical care and public health have been continuously improved. A three-level network for medical care, disease prevention, and public health is being continuously completed. By 2004, there were over 9,000 public health institutions of all kinds and 100,000 public health professionals in Xinjiang. Xinjiang has seen great development in the areas of culture and the arts, broadcasting, movies, TV and press, and publication. By 2004, there were 109 art troupes, the radio and broadcasting system covered 93 per cent of the total population, and all ethnic groups are leading an increasingly abundant cultural life in Xinjiang.

Ethnic unity

The cause of ethnic unity and progress has been continuously pushed forward. We have consistently regarded cultivating and using minority ethnic cadres as an important effort for comprehensively carrying out the party's policies for self-governance in minority ethnic areas and have cultivated and fostered a large number of excellent cadres from ethnic minorities. At present, the number of cadres from ethnic minorities has soared to 348,000, 52 per cent of all cadres in the autonomous region, 110 times greater than in the initial period after liberation. The number of professionals from ethnic minorities in all technical fields is 250,000, 56 per cent of all technical professionals in the autonomous region, 562 times greater than in the initial period after liberation. Women cadres from ethnic minorities account for at least 66 per cent of all women cadres in the autonomous region. We have consistently promoted ethnic unity education and propaganda -which focus on Marxist theory on ethnic affairs and the party's policies for ethnic affairs -among cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups. We have, on a large scale, conducted activities to commend ethnic unity and ethnic progress and commend exemplary figures who excel at ethnic unity. In this way, we have created an atmosphere thick with ethnic unity. Since 1983, in particular, we have conducted an activity called the Ethnic Unity Education Month, for 23 consecutive years. In this way, Marxist views on the country, on the Chinese nation and on religion have been mastered by an increasingly large number of cadres and the masses. In this way, the idea that the Han nationality cannot gain a foothold without minority ethnic groups, that minority ethnic groups cannot gain a foothold without the Han nationality, and that every ethnic minority cannot gain a foothold without every other minority ethnic group, has been deeply rooted in the minds of the public. In this way, the atmosphere has become thick with the practice of trust among ethnic groups, respect for one another, mutual learning, mutual support, and mutual understanding. In this way, exemplary figures who excel at strengthening ethnic unity have e merged in wave upon wave. This activity has effectively accelerated the cause of ethnic unity and ethnic progress and has led to an excellent situation in which all ethnic groups breathe the same breath, share one fate, are heart to heart, struggle side by side, and seek common prosperity and development.

The 50 years since the founding of the autonomous region are five decades in which all ethnic groups of Xinjiang people have changed the sky and the earth and have struggled in a painstaking manner and are five brilliant and resplendent decades of development in Xinjiang history. Brilliant achievements made by Xinjiang over the past five decades are the result of the correct leadership by the Party Central Committee and the State Council. These brilliant achievements are the result of the full support of the national government and the unselfish assistance of other areas at the provincial level. These brilliant achievements are the result of efforts made by all ethnic groups who unite, struggle, and press ahead for greater progress. These brilliant achievements are the great victory of the party's policies for self-governance in minority ethnic regions. Over the past 50 years, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps has been firm in carrying out its historic mission of being stationed at the border to safeguard the border and to open uncultivated land. This corps has carried forward and promoted the glorious traditions of our party and our military and has relied on itself. This corps has struggled hard to pursue career success and has earned historic achievements that cannot be denied in developing, safeguarding, and constructing Xinjiang. This corps has played an irreplaceable role in strengthening stability and in accelerating development in Xinjiang.

Marxist view of ethnic affairs

Over the past 50 years since the founding of the autonomous region, all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have - in the great practice of socialist construction - created and accumulated abundant experience. This is a very valuable asset. Meticulously reviewing this experience is of great significance for us in further satisfactorily carrying out all tasks in reform, development, and stability, in comprehensively constructing a well-off society [xiaokang shehui], and in accelerating socialist modernization construction.

Marxist views on ethnic affairs and the party's policies for ethnic affairs have been consistently carried out and the system for self-governance in minority ethnic areas has been continuously reinforced and completed. We have adhered to the Marxist view of ethnic affairs and have meticulously carried out the party's policies for ethnic affairs. We have united overall policies and strategies for ethnic work issued by the central government with the actual situation in ethnic work in Xinjiang. We have adopted a series of policies and measures that accelerate economic and social development in minority ethnic areas, that strengthen ethnic unity, and that maintain social stability in an effort to accelerate economic and social development and the cause of national unity and national progress. Practice shows that our party's polices on ethnic affairs and religious affairs, as well as the self-governance system for minority ethnic areas, are completely correct; suit the actual situation in China; meet the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups in our country; are important groundwork and an important guarantee for all ethnic groups uniting as one, struggling to seek common prosperity, and common development; and are very vigorous. Only when we unswervingly adhere to the Marxist view of ethnic affairs and to the party's policies on ethnic affairs and practice and only when we complete the system for self-governance in minority ethnic areas, will we be able to reinforce socialist ethnic relations based on equality, unity, reciprocal assistance, and harmony and will we be able to accelerate common prosperity and common development among all ethnic groups.

We have consistently emancipated minds, sought the truth from facts, advanced with the times, regarded the actual situation as the starting point, and explored a development road that suits the actual situation in Xinjiang. Xinjiang is border area where different ethnic groups are gathered. This area has obvious individual characteristics. This requires us not only to unswervingly adhere to the party's basic line and to unswervingly carry out the party's lines, strategies, and policies, but also requires us to adhere to the party's ideological line, to regard the actual situation as the starting point for all, and to determine key projects, targets, and tasks for the development of Xinjiang in light of the actual situation. We should adopt effective procedures and methods -in light of our own conditions -to write a good chapter in uniting the spirit of leaders at a more senior level with the actual local circumstances, to work in a creative manner, and to open our own roads through practice. Xinjiang could not have developed without the support and aid of the central government and by other areas at the provincial level. More importantly, Xinjiang should rely on people of all ethnic groups in the autonomous region to struggle with painstaking efforts to achieve development. Xinjiang must consistently regard the actual situation as the starting point. Xinjiang should not only gain support from the national government but should also depend on itself, struggle with painstaking efforts to pursue career success, and maintain the spiritual status of advancing with the times. Xinjiang should not wait and rely on others but should rise to the occasion, be brave to explore and innovate, and pour liveliness and vigour into all our causes.

We have consistently regarded economic construction as the central task, have accelerated reform and opening up, and have vigorously developed the social forces of production. For years, we have regarded the actual situation of the autonomous region as the starting point. We have unswervingly implemented an advantageous resource transformation strategy that focuses on "one white resource and one black resource" (cotton and petroleum). We have continuously enriched and strengthened this strategy, have vigorously developed its specialized product economy, and have accelerated development in modern agriculture, modern forestry, modern orchard growing, and the industrialization of agriculture. We have accelerated new industrialization and urbanization, have worked hard to accelerate economic development in Xinjiang, and have brought benefits to the people and the masses of all ethnic groups. Practice shows that only when we adhere to the idea that development is the last word, consistently reform and open up, continuously accelerate economic and social development, and gradually narrow the gap between coastal areas and inland areas, will our party and our socialism be stronger in uniting people and attracting people.

Stability - the basis of development

We have adhered to the strategy of placing stability above all else and have been unswerving in carrying out all significant decisions made by the central authorities on maintaining stability in Xinjiang. Stability is the basis of reform and development. Without a stable environment, all else will be pointless to discuss. Stability in Xinjiang influences the overall situation in the country. For years, we have meticulously carried out a series of significant decisions made by the central authorities on maintaining stability in Xinjiang, have taken a firm stance in fighting ethnic separatism and illegal religious activities, and have adopted measures for solving both major and minor problems so as to effectively carry out our work and maintain stability for the overall situation in Xinjiang. Reviewing the process of fighting separatism, we have profoundly realized that the Party Central Committee had a bird's-eye view of the overall situation; accurately grasped development and changes in the international and domestic situations; put forward guiding strategies, policies and measures for our work; guided our direction; and steered the course of work. The Party Central Committee has played a decisive role in our victory over the fight against separatism. Under the new historic conditions, we must focus on the overall situation of party work and national work, must focus on the need to safeguard the supreme interests of the country and the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups, and must be unswerving in carrying out significant decisions made by the central authorities. We must consistently work with one hand on reform and development and work with the other hand on unity and stability. We must unite the will and the strength of the masses of all ethnic groups in the autonomous region, safeguard the unification of the motherland, safeguard ethnic unity, and preserve social and political stability in Xinjiang.

We have consistently served the interests of the public, governed for the people, and brought benefits to the people and the masses of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. The CCP is the loyal representative of the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups. We consistently regard satisfactorily realizing, preserving, and developing the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people as the fundamental starting point and the end-result of all our work. Throughout the course of accelerating reform and construction, we have - in accordance with the requirement of serving the interests of the public and governing for the people - united meeting the long-term strategic goals of economic and social development with carrying out short-term tasks related to raising the masses' standard of living. We have brought issues - which the people and the masses are more concerned about than anything else, that are the most realistic, and that should be solved before any other issue - to the top of our agenda and have handled these issues as significant issues. Bringing benefits to the people and the masses has enhanced ethnic unity, has improved the party's and the government's ability to unite people and to attract people, and has strengthened the confidence and the determination of people of all ethnic groups in following the party and in working in one mind to make our future better. Creating benefits wholeheartedly for the people of all ethnic groups is a time-tested ideological guideline that guides us continuously towards victory.

We have consistently regarded strengthening ethnic unity as the major theme, have vigorously strengthened harmony and development, and have developed and constructed Xinjiang with joint efforts. Ethnic unity is the lifeblood of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. We have been unswerving in promoting education on ethnic unity, have commended role models in ethnic unity at every level, have continuously accelerated the cause of ethnic unity and ethnic progress, and have created and reviewed some excellent experiences in strengthening ethnic unity. These excellent experiences have exerted an extensive and profound influence on the autonomous region and even on the whole country. These experiences have made an important contribution to the work of ethnic unity in the autonomous region and even to the work of ethnic unity throughout the nation. Under the new situation, we have vigorously strengthened unity between the military and the civilian governments, unity between the military and civilians, unity between the production and construction corps and local sectors, and unity between enterprises under the direct administration of the central government and local enterprises. Under the new situation, we have united the strength of all sectors to stabilize Xinjiang, to make Xinjiang more prosperous, to enrich the people, to strengthen border defence, to strengthen ethnic unity, to accelerate development, and to work together in developing and constructing Xinjiang. No matter whether it is the past, the present or the future, unbreakable overall unity among all ethnic groups is always the basis and the guarantee that lead us towards victory.

Upholding central government's decisions

The first 20 years in this century are a period of an important strategic opportunity that we must firmly seize to make great achievements. The West China Development Project has been implemented at a higher level. The overall strategic arrangements issued by the central authorities for development and stability in Xinjiang have been carried out and implemented. Together with these implementations, Xinjiang is facing an unprecedented opportunity for development and has greater prospects. We should seize this valuable strategic opportunity, consistently promote the glorious tradition of independence and painstaking struggle, and regard the actual situation of the autonomous region as the starting point. We should press ahead for greater achievements, advance with the times, and forge ahead and break new ground in reform, opening up, and socialist modernization construction.

We should comprehensively implement the concept of scientific development and accelerate the development of the national economy and social progress. In light of the actual situation in the autonomous region and in light of the need to keep in step with other places around China in comprehensively constructing a well-off society, we put forward a goal of doubling the GDP in 2000 by the year 2020. The key to accelerating economic and social development lies in consistently using the concept of scientific development to guide the overall situation of economic and social development, in scientifically determining plans and targets for development, and in proving the advantages of the socialist system and the self-governance system for ethnic minority areas by developing advanced forces of production, by developing advanced culture, and by realizing the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups. We should regard satisfactorily handling "san nong" [the three rural issues: agriculture, peasants and rural areas] as the most important task. We should - on the premise of guaranteeing grain security - continuously optimize the structure of the agricultural industry, should bring the advantages of the area's resources into full play, and should focus on satisfactorily enhancing the construction of production bases for cotton, for grain, for the area's forestry and fruit, and for animal husbandry products. We should be unswerving in strengthening the strategy for transforming advantageous resources, expand and strengthen pillar industries, and transform Xinjiang into an important chemical base for petroleum and natural gas, an important chemical base for coal-electricity and coal, and an important relay base for important strategic materials. We should open up a new road towards industrialization that suits the actual situation in Xinjiang. We should ensure that secondary industry accounts for at least 50 per cent of the GDP in the autonomous region by 2010 and try to achieve general industrialization within the first two decades of the century. We should vigorously develop tertiary industry and accelerate the construction of infrastructure for water conservation, energy, transportation, telecommunications, and major raw materials and the construction of basic industry, so as to lay a solid foundation for rapid economic development in the autonomous region. We should comprehensively implement the strategy of making Xinjiang more prosperous through science and education and the strategy of strengthening Xinjiang through highly qualified professionals and should accelerate comprehensive progress in all social projects.

We should further emancipate the minds, change concepts, and accelerate reform and opening up. In order to achieve rapid, extraordinary, and leap-and-bound economic development in Xinjiang, we should, first, further emancipate the minds and update concepts. We should use overall ideological emancipation and the overall updating of concepts to accelerate overall economic development and overall social progress. We should be brave in tackling difficult issues and brave in making progress. We should devote greater efforts to reforming key fields. We should try to make new breakthroughs in important fields and key issues. We should adhere to the "two unswerving points," being unswerving in reinforcing and developing the publicly owned economy and being unswerving in encouraging, supporting, and guiding the development of the nonpublicly owned economy, such as individually owned businesses and privately operated enterprises. We should be oriented towards the two resources and the two markets. We should uphold the concept of the overall market and the concept of overall opening up. We should participate in domestic and international competition on a large scale, in more fields, and at a higher level. We should regard satisfactorily using the resources of neighbouring countries as part of our strategy of transforming resource advantages. We should strengthen cooperation with these countries on the basis of reciprocal supplementing of resources. We should continuously create new room in which to implement the advantageous resource transformation strategy.

We should firmly carry out all significant decisions made by the central government for preserving stability in Xinjiang. We should unswervingly safeguard the unification of the motherland and safeguard social and political stability. We should unswervingly uphold the ideology of placing stability above all else, profoundly carry out the series of significant decisions made by the central government for safeguarding stability in Xinjiang, and meticulously carry out all tasks related to preserving social and political stability. We should adhere to the strategy of "taking the initiative to attack, strike [separatism] as soon as it appears, and make preemptive strikes." We should firmly crack down on separatist activities by the "three forces" and firmly gain the upper hand in the struggle against separatism. We should further strengthen all measures for solving major problems and continue to promote centralized rectification campaigns in key areas. We should strengthen the management of religious affairs in accordance with the law, focus on the enhancement of grassroots organization construction, and strengthen the reeducation campaign on the struggle against separatism in the field of ideology. We should meticulously and satisfactorily handle hot issues and difficult issues and appropriately resolve internal-contradictions among the people. We should guarantee the stability of Xinjiang's overall social and political situation and create an excellent situation for reform, opening up, and modernization construction.

We should adhere to the governing philosophy of being people-centred. We should strive to solve practical problems for the masses of all ethnic groups. We should effectively and satisfactorily safeguard the immediate interests of the people of all ethnic groups. We should consistently regard satisfactorily realizing, safeguarding, and developing the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people as the fundamental starting point and the end-result for all our work. We should place the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups in the first place, effectively bring benefits to the people and the masses, and solve practical problems for the people and the masses. We should profoundly carry out ideological and political education and guide the masses to correctly analyse the situation, correctly grasp the actual situation of the autonomous region, correctly understand the benefits-oriented relationship among all sectors, raise their ideological and political conscientiousness, strengthen the concept of the overall situation, and work in one mind in struggling for accelerating economic and social development.

We should strive to create and foster a contingent of highly qualified cadres of all ethnic groups in accordance with the need to enhance construction of the party's ability to govern. We should continue to strengthen the political standard, strengthen training through practice, and regard the requirements of the concept of scientific development and the correct view of administrative achievements as the overarching philosophy for the detailed practice of observing cadres. We should pay great attention to and satisfactorily train, select, and use cadres from ethnic minorities. We should construct a contingent of highly qualified ethnic minority cadres who have a firm political stance; are professionally excellent; excel at leading reform, opening up and socialist modernization construction, and have won the sincere support of the masses of all ethnic groups. Cadres of all ethnic groups should learn from one another, respect one another, closely cooperate with one another, give top priority to the overall situation, work in one mind to benefit the people of all ethnic groups, and make new contributions to accelerating economic development and to strengthening social stability.

A classical poem says, "When the sea is at low tide, the sea looks vast; when the wind is blowing, the sailboat sails on the wind." We should be unswerving in adhering to the leadership of the CCP, in carrying out the party's policies on ethnic affairs, and in reinforcing and completing the self-governance system for ethnic minority areas. We should - under the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council - work in one mind, struggle with painstaking efforts, and be of one mind and bed united as one. If we do this, we will certainly be able to achieve the goal of comprehensively constructing a well-off society and making socialist Xinjiang more prosperous, wealthier, and more harmonious.

Source: Qiushi website, Beijing, in Chinese 1 Oct 05