SCIO press conference on Xinjiang's practices in advancing Chinese modernization with breakthroughs in high-quality development

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Speakers:

Mr. Erkin Tuniyaz, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee and chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Mr. Chen Weijun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee and executive vice chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Ms. Sun Hongmei, vice chairperson of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Mr. Wang Kuiran, secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission and deputy director of the commission

Chairperson:

Ms. Xing Huina, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

May 21, 2024

Xing Huina:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This is the 21st press conference in the series "Promoting High-Quality Development." Today, we have invited Mr. Erkin Tuniyaz, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee and chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, to brief you on Xinjiang's practices in advancing Chinese modernization with breakthroughs in high-quality development, and to take your questions. Also present today are Mr. Chen Weijun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee and executive vice chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; Ms. Sun Hongmei, vice chairperson of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; and Mr. Wang Kuiran, secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission and deputy director of the commission.

Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Erkin Tuniyaz for his introduction.

Erkin Tuniyaz:

Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure to meet you here. First of all, on behalf of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee, Xinjiang regional government, and the people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your long-term interest in as well as support and assistance for Xinjiang.

The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core attaches great importance to the work related to Xinjiang, and shows special care for the people of all ethnic groups in the region. General Secretary Xi Jinping once stated, with deep affection, that he has always closely followed the development and progress of Xinjiang. He made consecutive visits to Xinjiang in 2022 and 2023, where he delivered important speeches and made significant instructions, charting the course and drawing the blueprint for the region.

Over the past two years, the central government's transfer payments to Xinjiang have reached 1.05 trillion yuan, while 19 provinces and cities provided pairing assistance to Xinjiang, collectively offering over 39 billion yuan of funds. Through these efforts, the 25.98 million residents of diverse ethnic groups in Xinjiang have deeply felt the special care from General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee, as well as the profound friendship of the people across the nation.

We have consistently kept in mind the instructions and pressed ahead with gratitude, firmly adhering to Xinjiang's strategic positioning in the country's overall development. We have fully and faithfully implemented the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang on all fronts, coordinated development and security as well as opening-up and stability, and promoted high-quality development with a focus on improving people's well-being. Last year, the growth rates of the six major indicators in Xinjiang, namely GDP, investment, consumption, imports and exports, fiscal revenue, and residents' income, all ranked among the top five nationwide, making it the best year in recent times in terms of the quality and efficiency of the region's economic and social development.

First, we have promoted high-standard domestic and external opening-up, working to build Xinjiang into a crucial corridor connecting Asia and Europe and a gateway for the country's westward opening-up. We have adhered to the principle of "welcoming in and going global," and enhanced high-level visits and practical cooperation with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, especially the five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. We have deepened exchanges and cooperation with provinces and cities providing pairing assistance to Xinjiang as well as neighboring provinces and regions. The construction of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone has been fully initiated, securing a historical breakthrough in Xinjiang's opening-up. In the past two years, Xinjiang's imports and exports have increased by 57% and 45.9%, respectively. The China-Europe and China-Asia freight trains passing through Xinjiang have made up over 60% of the national total, with the "Tianshan" freight train services operating regularly. Xinjiang is opening its door even wider.

Second, we have been actively fostering a modern industrial system to cultivate a strategic fulcrum for the new development pattern. Leveraging Xinjiang's resource endowments and industrial foundation, we have accelerated the development of eight major industrial clusters, including oil and gas, coal, coal-fired power and coal-based chemicals , green mining, and strategic emerging industries. Now, the industrial system integrating the primary, secondary and tertiary industries is becoming increasingly sound. Driven by major projects, we have advanced the implementation of 11 100-billion-yuan level projects across Xinjiang and 11 10-billion-yuan level projects in southern Xinjiang. Last year, the output of industrial silicon and polysilicon increased by 27.3% and 26.8%, respectively. The number of tourists reached a record high, with tourism revenue increasing by 2.27 times. The development of a number of high-level innovation platforms such as the Xinjiang base of the Huairou Laboratory and a laboratory of photovoltaic materials and batteries, has been expedited, empowering the transformation and upgrading of industries. We have actively absorbed industries transferred from the central and eastern regions of the country, constantly exploring effective pathways to serve and integrate into the new development pattern.

Third, we have furthered the construction of the "three bases and one corridor," with the aim of establishing a national strategic base for energy and resource security. Based on the nation's needs and Xinjiang's capacities, we have constantly advanced the construction of the national large-scale base for oil and gas production, processing and storage, the national large-scale base for coal, coal-fired power and coal-based chemicals, the national large-scale base for wind power, and the national energy and resources land corridor, representing Xinjiang's contributions to ensuring national energy and key mineral resources security. In 2023, Xinjiang's oil and gas production equivalent reached 66.06 million metric tons, ranking first nationwide for three consecutive years. The increase in raw coal production stood at 46 million metric tons, with the growth ranking second nationwide. The installed capacity of new energy such as wind and photovoltaic power has exceeded 70 million kilowatts, representing nearly one-fifth of the region's total . Xinjiang supplied 120 million metric tons of locally produced coal and 126.3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to other parts of the country in 2023 , illuminating and warming countless households across the country.

Fourth, we have accelerated agricultural development to invigorate the autonomous region, forging an important national supply base for quality agricultural and animal husbandry products. We have focused on ensuring national food security and the security of important agricultural product supplies, leveraging the advantages and releasing the potential of modern agriculture. In 2023, food output increased by over 6 billion jin (3 million metric tons), accounting for 34.4% of the total national increase. After achieving a balance of food supply and demand within its jurisdiction, with slight surpluses, the autonomous region now produces additional food to supply other parts of the nation. Its cotton output has reached 5.112 million metric tons, accounting for 91% of the national total, with a mechanical harvest rate of 89%. The main quality indicators were the best of the past five years. The output of aquatic products reached 183,900 metric tons, ranking first among the five provincial regions in the northwest of China. Salmon and other seafood produced in Xinjiang have become new favorites nationwide.

Fifth, we have firmly safeguarded ethnic unity and national reunification, creating a strategic shield of national geo-security. We have insisted on law-based governance, achieving stability through unity, nurturing people's souls with culture, enriching the public, bringing prosperity, and developing the region with a long-term goal. The entire society has continued to improve, with the perception of forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation developing deep roots. The sinicization of Islam has made solid progress in Xinjiang. Interaction, exchange, and integration among various ethnic groups have expanded. More than 75% of fiscal expenditures were used to ensure and improve the people's wellbeing, capitalizing on development achievements to continuously improve people's lives and rally their support.

In the first quarter of this year, Xinjiang's GDP grew by 5.6% year on year, with the total value added of the industrial enterprises above the designated size increasing by 8%. Fixed-asset investment rose 12.8%, general public budget revenue grew by 10.7%, and foreign trade surged by 42.7%. Key indicators outperformed expectations, marking a strong start. Going forward, we will continue to thoroughly implement the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches and instructions, and practice the strategy for the governance of Xinjiang in the new era in a thorough, accurate, and comprehensive manner. Our aim is to improve livelihoods, strengthen social cohesion, promote high-quality socioeconomic development, and make new and greater contributions to building a great country and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Recently, the TV series "To the Wonder" has received widespread attention and sparked heated discussions. We sincerely invite everyone to visit Xinjiang, discover its beauty, and be enchanted by our hospitality.

I will end my introduction here. Thank you, everyone!