Writing a New Chapter of Chinese-Path Modernization in Xinjiang Practice

In 1955, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was officially established, becoming the first provincial-level ethnic autonomous area founded after the founding of New China. Over the past 70 years, especially since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and guided by the Party's governance strategy for Xinjiang in the New Era [1]1 The Party's governance strategy for Xinjiang in the New Era: A policy framework formulated by the CPC Central Committee under Xi Jinping, focusing on maintaining social stability, ethnic unity, and long-term peace and order in Xinjiang through law-based governance, cultural cultivation, and economic development., cadres and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have promoted unprecedented achievements in Xinjiang's economic and social development and the improvement of people's livelihoods, continuously enhancing the sense of gain, happiness, and security among all ethnic groups. Practice has proven that the Party's governance strategy for Xinjiang in the New Era is completely correct and must be adhered to for the long term. To further advance Xinjiang work, it is necessary to fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party's governance strategy for Xinjiang in the New Era, firmly grasp Xinjiang's strategic positioning in the national overall situation, adhere to the overall goal of social stability and lasting peace, and continuously achieve new progress and results in governing Xinjiang according to law, uniting Xinjiang through solidarity, enriching Xinjiang through cultural cultivation, revitalizing Xinjiang through prosperity, and building Xinjiang for the long term, striving to write a new chapter of Chinese-path modernization in Xinjiang practice.

1955年，新疆维吾尔自治区正式成立，成为新中国成立后建立的第一个省级民族自治地方。70年来，特别是党的十八大以来，新疆各族干部群众在中国共产党的坚强领导下、在新时代党的治疆方略指引下，推动新疆经济社会发展和民生改善取得前所未有的成就，各族群众的获得感、幸福感、安全感不断增强。实践证明，新时代党的治疆方略完全正确，必须长期坚持。进一步做好新疆工作，要完整准确全面贯彻新时代党的治疆方略，牢牢把握新疆在国家全局中的战略定位，扭住社会稳定和长治久安的工作总目标，推动依法治疆、团结稳疆、文化润疆、富民兴疆、长期建疆不断取得新进展新成效，奋力谱写中国式现代化新疆实践新篇章。

Recognizing the importance of Xinjiang work from a strategic and overall perspective

站在战略和全局高度认识新疆工作的重要性

Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been an inseparable part of Chinese territory and an important gateway for Chinese civilization to open to the world. Xinjiang's stability, development, and prosperity are related to the overall situation of Chinese-path modernization.

新疆自古以来就是中国领土不可分割的一部分，是中华文明向世界开放的重要门户。新疆的稳定、发展和繁荣关乎中国式现代化建设全局。

From the moment of its founding, the Communist Party of China took seeking happiness for the Chinese people, including people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and seeking rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, including all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, as its original aspiration and founding mission. Throughout the historical periods of revolution, construction, and reform, the CPC has drawn lessons and experiences from the history of governing Xinjiang, continuously innovating and developing concepts for governing Xinjiang, and endowing Xinjiang work with new contemporary connotations and mission tasks. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to Xinjiang work, pointing out that "doing a good job in Xinjiang work is a matter of overall situation and is a major affair for the whole Party and the whole country," and emphasizing that "Xinjiang work has a special important position in the overall work of the Party and the state, and is related to the overall situation of building a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," drawing a blueprint and guiding the direction for building a beautiful Xinjiang. Cadres and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have worked together and marched forward hand in hand, promoting historic achievements and historic changes in various undertakings in Xinjiang in the New Era.

中国共产党一经成立，就将为包括新疆各族人民在内的中国人民谋幸福，为包括新疆各民族在内的中华民族谋复兴作为初心使命。在革命、建设、改革各个历史时期，中国共产党汲取治疆历史经验和教训，不断创新发展治疆理念，赋予新疆工作新的时代内涵和使命任务。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记高度重视新疆工作，指出“做好新疆工作事关大局，是全党全国的大事”，强调“新疆工作在党和国家工作全局中具有特殊重要的地位，事关强国建设、民族复兴大局”，为建设美丽新疆擘画蓝图、指引航向。新疆各族干部群众同心协力、携手奋斗，推动新时代新疆各项事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革。

On the new journey of comprehensively advancing Chinese-path modernization, it is necessary to recognize the importance of Xinjiang work from a strategic and overall perspective. Xinjiang is located in the northwestern border of China and is an important strategic barrier for safeguarding national security. As the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt [2]2 The Silk Road Economic Belt: The land-based component of the Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at enhancing connectivity and cooperation between China and countries across Eurasia; Xinjiang is designated as its core area., Xinjiang is an important window for China's opening to the west, an important transportation hub connecting the Eurasian continent, and a center for commerce, logistics, finance, culture, science and education, and medical services. As a national strategic guarantee base for energy and resources and a national supply base for high-quality agricultural and livestock products, Xinjiang provides important guarantees for the national economic and social development. As a homeland where multiple ethnic groups live together, Xinjiang solidly advances the building of the Chinese national community, does ethnic work in the direction of enhancing commonality, and educates and guides people of all ethnic groups to firmly establish the community concept of sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace, life and death, and destiny, jointly building a great motherland and jointly creating a good life.

在全面推进中国式现代化的新征程上，必须站在战略和全局高度认识新疆工作的重要性。新疆地处我国西北边陲，是维护国家安全的重要战略屏障。作为丝绸之路经济带核心区，新疆是我国向西开放的重要窗口，是连接亚欧大陆重要的交通枢纽、商贸物流、金融、文化科教和医疗服务中心。作为国家能源资源战略保障基地、全国优质农牧产品供给基地，新疆为全国经济社会发展提供重要保障。作为多民族共同生活的家园，新疆扎实推进中华民族共同体建设，按照增进共同性的方向做好民族工作，教育引导各族人民牢固树立休戚与共、荣辱与共、生死与共、命运与共的共同体理念，共同建设伟大祖国，共同创造美好生活。

Xinjiang's economic and social development in the New Era has achieved historic achievements

新时代新疆经济社会发展取得历史性成就

Entering the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, from the overall and strategic perspective of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, has reviewed, planned, and deployed Xinjiang work, continuously deepening the understanding and grasp of the laws of governing Xinjiang, clarifying the overall goal of social stability and lasting peace, and establishing the Party's governance strategy for Xinjiang in the New Era. People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party's governance strategy for Xinjiang in the New Era, closely adhere to the main line of forging the sense of community for the Chinese nation, and closely pursue high-quality development to benefit people's livelihoods.

进入新时代，以习近平同志为核心的党中央从强国建设、民族复兴的全局和战略高度，审视、谋划、部署新疆工作，不断深化对治疆规律的认识和把握，明确了社会稳定和长治久安总目标，确立了新时代党的治疆方略。新疆各族人民坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，完整准确全面贯彻新时代党的治疆方略，紧扣铸牢中华民族共同体意识工作主线，紧贴民生推动高质量发展。

The economy has sustained healthy and rapid development, and the modern industrial system has been continuously improved. The regional GDP increased from 749.947 billion yuan in 2012 to 2,053.408 billion yuan in 2024, surpassing the 2 trillion yuan mark for the first time; per capita GDP increased from 33,495 yuan in 2012 to 78,660 yuan in 2024, a 1.3-fold increase at current prices. Based on resource conditions and industrial foundation, Xinjiang has accelerated the construction of a modern industrial system, continuously optimized the industrial structure, accelerated the formation of a national supply base for high-quality agricultural and livestock products, accelerated the construction of a national strategic guarantee base for energy and resources, accelerated the development of new-generation information technology and other industries, and increased the vitality of tourism, logistics, and other industries, becoming new growth points.

经济持续健康快速发展，现代化产业体系不断完善。地区生产总值由2012年的7499.47亿元增至2024年的20534.08亿元，首次突破2万亿元大关；人均地区生产总值由2012年的33495元增至2024年的78660元，现价增长1.3倍。新疆立足资源条件和产业基础，加快建设现代化产业体系，产业结构持续优化，全国优质农牧产品供给基地加速形成，国家能源资源战略保障基地加快建设，新一代信息技术等产业加速发展，旅游、物流等产业活力日增，成为新增长点。

The core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt has been accelerated, continuously improving the level of opening to the outside world. Xinjiang consciously integrates its regional opening strategy into the overall layout of the country's opening to the west, taking the construction of "one port, two zones, five centers, and the port economic belt" [3]3 "One port, two zones, five centers, and the port economic belt": Key projects for building Xinjiang as a core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, referring to the Urumqi International Land Port, the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center and the Kashgar Economic Development Zone, five centers (transport, commerce and logistics, finance, culture and science, and medical services), and the port economic belt along the border. as the starting point, building a golden channel between Asia and Europe and a bridgehead for opening to the west. The opening channels have been accelerated, with 19 open ports; a total of 119 bilateral international road transport routes and 10 multilateral international road freight routes have been opened; in 2024, 16,400 China-Europe (Asia) freight trains [4]4 China-Europe (Asia) freight trains: Block trains running between Chinese cities and destinations in Europe and Asia, primarily via Xinjiang's Alashankou and Horgos ports. passed through Xinjiang, maintaining more than 10,000 trains for five consecutive years. The scale of trade has continued to increase, with total imports and exports rising from 158.96 billion yuan in 2012 to 434.16 billion yuan in 2024. The opening platforms have become more robust; the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone was approved for establishment in October 2023, adding more than 9,000 enterprises in 2024, with imports and exports accounting for more than 30% of the whole Xinjiang, initially showing a leading and driving role in promoting trade and investment facilitation and gathering advantageous industries.

丝绸之路经济带核心区加快建设，不断提升对外开放水平。新疆自觉将区域性开放战略融入国家向西开放总体布局，以“一港、两区、五大中心、口岸经济带”建设为抓手，打造亚欧黄金通道和向西开放桥头堡。对外开放大通道加快建设，对外开放口岸达19个；共开通双边国际道路运输线路119条、开放多边国际道路货运线路10条；2024年过境中欧（亚）班列1.64万列，已连续五年保持在万列以上。贸易规模持续提升，进出口总额由2012年的1589.6亿元增至2024年的4341.6亿元。对外开放平台更加健全，中国（新疆）自由贸易试验区于2023年10月获批设立，2024年新增企业9000余家，进出口总额占到全疆三成以上，对促进贸易投资便利化、集聚优势产业的引领带动作用初步显现。

People's well-being has been continuously improved, and the sense of gain has been enhanced. Since the New Era, Xinjiang has built a moderately prosperous society in all respects together with the rest of the country, and the problem of absolute poverty that had plagued Xinjiang for thousands of years was historically resolved. At the same time, it has done everything possible to promote high-quality and full employment, with the total number of employed persons increasing from 12.46 million in 2012 to 13.91 million in 2024, an increase of 11.64%. Urban and rural residents' incomes have grown steadily; in 2024, the per capita disposable income of urban residents was 42,820 yuan and that of rural residents was 19,427 yuan, an increase of 23,801 yuan and 12,551 yuan respectively compared with 2012. Education has developed in all aspects; in 2024, the gross enrollment rate for preschool education in Xinjiang reached 102.72%, the nine-year compulsory education consolidation rate was over 99%, and the gross enrollment rate for senior high school education reached 97.74%, all higher than the national average.

民生福祉持续增进，群众获得感不断增强。新时代以来，新疆同全国一道全面建成小康社会，困扰新疆数千年的绝对贫困问题得到历史性解决。同时，千方百计促进高质量充分就业，就业人员总数从2012年的1246万人增加至2024年的1391万人，增长11.64%。城乡居民收入稳步增长，2024年，城镇居民人均可支配收入42820元、农村居民人均可支配收入19427元，比2012年分别增加23801元和12551元。教育事业全方位发展，2024年，新疆学前教育毛入园率达到102.72%、九年义务教育巩固率达到99%以上、高中阶段毛入学率达到97.74%，均高于全国平均水平。

Significant results have been achieved in ecological civilization construction, and the foundation for green and low-carbon development has become more solid. Xinjiang firmly establishes the concept that clear waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, adheres to the integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands, and deserts, and comprehensively promotes the construction of a beautiful Xinjiang. The effectiveness of air environment management has become apparent; in 2024, the proportion of days with good air quality in cities at the prefectural level and above in Xinjiang was 78.1%. Scientific utilization of water resources, improvement of water use efficiency, and strengthening of water environment management; in 2024, the proportion of surface water reaching or better than Class III water bodies in Xinjiang was 95.9%. Continuously promote the construction of the "Three-North" Shelterbelt Forest Program [5]5 The "Three-North" Shelterbelt Forest Program: A large-scale afforestation program launched in 1978 covering northwest, north, and northeast China to combat desertification and soil erosion., with the forest coverage rate increasing from 4.24% in 2012 to 5.07% in 2024; over the past 30 years, the oasis area has increased by 56.6%. Continue to fight a tough battle on the edge of the Taklimakan Desert, achieving the smooth "joining" of the world's longest desert ecological barrier of 3,046 kilometers. Actively promote the work of carbon peak and carbon neutrality [6]6 Carbon peak and carbon neutrality: China's goals to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060., and the carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP continue to decline.

生态文明建设成效显著，绿色低碳发展底色更足。新疆牢固树立绿水青山就是金山银山的理念，坚持山水林田湖草沙一体化保护和系统治理，全面推进美丽新疆建设。大气环境治理成效显现，2024年新疆地级及以上城市空气质量优良天数比例为78.1%。科学利用水资源，提高用水效率，强化水环境治理，2024年新疆地表水达到或好于Ⅲ类水体比例为95.9%。持续推进“三北”工程建设，森林覆盖率由2012年的4.24%增至2024年的5.07%；近30年来，绿洲面积增长56.6%。持续打好塔克拉玛干沙漠边缘阻击战，实现3046公里的世界最长环沙漠生态屏障顺利“合龙”。积极推动碳达峰碳中和工作，单位地区生产总值二氧化碳排放量持续下降。

Demonstrating new achievements in the practice of Chinese-path modernization

在中国式现代化实践中展现新作为

On the new journey, it is necessary to plan Xinjiang work within the overall situation of Chinese-path modernization, better coordinate development and security, openness and security, continuously do a good job in fundamental, basic, and long-term work related to lasting peace, seize new opportunities, and demonstrate new achievements.

新征程上，要把新疆工作放在中国式现代化全局中谋划，更好统筹发展和安全、开放和安全，持续做好事关长治久安的根本性、基础性、长远性工作，抓住新机遇，展现新作为。

First, fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy. High-quality development is the primary task of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, and it is development that embodies the new development philosophy. To promote high-quality development in Xinjiang, it is necessary to fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy. Vigorously implement the strategy of rejuvenating Xinjiang through science and technology, strengthen the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial development, deepen the reform of the scientific and technological evaluation system and incentive mechanism, accelerate the aggregation of innovation factors, and develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions; promote urban-rural integration and regional coordinated development, advance people-centered new-type urbanization, accelerate the urbanization of agricultural transfer population, while focusing on improving rural development levels, deeply explore rural characteristic resources, implement brand strategies, and cultivate new rural industries and new business forms; expand the effectiveness of ecological governance in key areas, vigorously promote green and low-carbon development, promote clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient use of energy, so that Xinjiang's sky is bluer, mountains greener, and water clearer; accelerate high-level opening, promote the construction of the core area of the Belt and Road Initiative, actively build a golden channel between Asia and Europe and a bridgehead for opening to the west; closely pursue high-quality development to benefit people's livelihoods, continuously improve the quality of life of the people, and make efforts in stabilizing and expanding employment and weaving a tight and solid social security network.

一是完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念。高质量发展是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的首要任务，是体现新发展理念的发展。推动新疆高质量发展，必须完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念。要大力实施科技兴疆战略，强化科技创新与产业发展深度融合，深化科技评价体系和激励机制改革，加快创新要素集聚，因地制宜发展新质生产力；促进城乡融合和区域协调发展，推进以人为本的新型城镇化建设，加快农业转移人口市民化，同时聚焦提升乡村发展水平，深入挖掘乡村特色资源，实施品牌战略，培育乡村新产业新业态；拓展重点领域生态治理成效，大力推动绿色低碳发展，推动能源清洁低碳安全高效利用，让新疆的天更蓝、山更绿、水更清；加快高水平开放，推动“一带一路”核心区建设，积极打造亚欧黄金通道和向西开放桥头堡；紧贴民生推动高质量发展，持续提升人民群众生活品质，在稳定和扩大就业、织密扎牢社会保障网等方面下功夫。

Second, build a modern industrial system that reflects Xinjiang's characteristics and advantages. Based on resource endowments and location advantages, give full play to the important role of oil, gas, coal, minerals, grain, cotton, fruits, and vegetables and other resources and industries in the overall situation of national economic development, cultivate and strengthen characteristic and advantageous industries, promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and cultivate strategic emerging industries through technological innovation. Better build a national strategic guarantee base for energy and resources, promote oil and gas exploration and the coupling development of coal, electricity, wind, solar, hydrogen storage, and strengthen the construction of the main power grid. Continue to build a national supply base for high-quality agricultural and livestock products, and promote the upgrading of the entire chain service of "production, purchase, storage, processing, and sales". Develop strategic emerging industries, develop wind and solar resources with high quality, build new energy bases, and construct the hydrogen energy industry chain. Promote the development of new material industries such as silicon-based and aluminum-based materials, and expand the photovoltaic manufacturing industry cluster. Promote the development of cultural tourism, modern logistics and other industries, and build a ten-trillion-yuan-level cultural tourism industry cluster. Relying on ports such as Horgos [7]7 Horgos: A major land port in Xinjiang on the border with Kazakhstan, serving as a key hub for China-Eurasia trade and the Belt and Road Initiative., develop cross-border e-commerce and optimize the layout of overseas warehouses.

二是构建体现新疆特色和优势的现代化产业体系。立足资源禀赋和区位优势，充分发挥油气、煤炭、矿产、粮食、棉花、果蔬等资源和产业在全国经济发展大局中的重要作用，培育和壮大特色优势产业，以科技创新推动传统产业改造升级和培育战略性新兴产业。更好打造国家能源资源战略保障基地，推进油气勘探和煤电风光氢储耦合发展，加强电力主网架建设。持续打造全国优质农牧产品供给基地，推动“产购储加销”全链条服务升级。发展战略性新兴产业，高质量开发风光资源，建设新能源基地，构建氢能产业链。推动硅基、铝基等新材料产业发展，壮大光伏制造产业集群。促进文旅和现代物流等产业发展，打造万亿元级文旅产业集群。依托霍尔果斯等口岸，发展跨境电商，优化海外仓布局。

Third, accelerate the cultivation of new growth poles in southern Xinjiang. Southern Xinjiang accounts for about two-thirds of the area of the whole Xinjiang; it is both the focus and difficulty of Xinjiang work and the great potential for Xinjiang's development. It is necessary to make efforts to solve the prominent problems and bottleneck constraints of southern Xinjiang's development. Optimize the industrial spatial layout in southern Xinjiang, accelerate the construction of green mining and new energy industry bases in southern Xinjiang, expand characteristic and advantageous industries such as forestry and fruit, cotton, animal husbandry, and tourism; accelerate urbanization in southern Xinjiang, through higher education and industrial development, gather more population to settle down, live, work, and start businesses; take multiple measures to promote comprehensive rural revitalization, make efforts to enlarge the industrial "cake", and promote stable employment and income increase for the people. At the same time, it is also necessary to greatly improve the modernization level of infrastructure in southern Xinjiang, strengthen the construction of major projects such as water conservancy, transportation, electricity, and communications, and lay a solid foundation for long-term development.

三是加快培育南疆新增长极。南疆约占全疆三分之二的面积，既是新疆工作的重点和难点，又是新疆发展的巨大潜力所在，必须着力破解南疆发展的突出问题和瓶颈制约。要优化南疆产业空间布局，加快南疆绿色矿业和新能源产业基地建设，壮大林果、棉花、畜牧、旅游等特色优势产业；加快南疆城镇化建设，通过高等教育和产业发展，集聚更多人口定居生活、干事创业；多措并举推进乡村全面振兴，着力做大产业“蛋糕”，促进群众稳定就业、增收致富。同时，还要大幅提升南疆基础设施现代化水平，加强水利、交通、电力、通信等重大项目建设，为长远发展打下坚实基础。

(The author is a special researcher of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Research Center of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and a researcher of the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者系新疆维吾尔自治区中国特色社会主义理论体系研究中心特约研究员、新疆维吾尔自治区社会科学院研究员）

Online editor: Hui Hui

网络编辑：慧慧