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Cultural Enrichment of Xinjiang Is a Major Innovation in the Party’s Strategy for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era

杨子强:文化润疆是新时代党的治疆方略的重大创新

· · Key Research · People's Daily (30 September 2025) · 28 min read

Xinjiang has been an inalienable part of China’s territory since ancient times and is a key region for the country’s border governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to work in Xinjiang and has deep concern

新疆自古以来就是中国领土不可分割的一部分,是国家边疆治理的重要区域。习近平总书记高度重视新疆工作,情系新疆各族人民。党的十八大以来,习近平总书记先后三次赴新疆考察、两次出席中央新疆工作座谈会并发表重要讲话。近日,习近平总书记率中央代表团出席新疆维吾尔自治区成立70周年庆祝活动,听取新疆维吾尔自治区党委和政府工作汇报,强调“新疆要完整准确全面贯彻新时代党的治疆方略”“铸牢中华民族共同体意识、推进中华民族共同体建设,推进我国宗教中国化,加强文化润疆、注重以文化人,引导各族干部群众树立正确的国家观、历史观、民族观、文化观、宗教观”。

Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, from the overall and strategic height of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation, has accurately assessed the new orientation and new changes in Xinjiang’s work, continuously deepened its understanding and grasp of the laws governing Xinjiang’s governance, clarified the overall goal of social stability and lasting peace, formed the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, and led Xinjiang into the best period of development in its history. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “To do a good job in Xinjiang, we must fully and accurately implement the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, firmly grasp the overall goal of Xinjiang’s work, govern Xinjiang according to law, stabilize Xinjiang through unity, cultivate Xinjiang through culture, enrich Xinjiang through prosperity, and build Xinjiang for the long term,” and put forward a series of important judgments on cultivating Xinjiang through culture, such as “to carry out cultivating Xinjiang through culture, we must first solve the problem of whether to look east or look west,” “we must take enhancing identity as the goal and deeply carry out cultivating Xinjiang through culture,” and “strengthen cultivating Xinjiang through culture, focus on transforming people through culture.”

新时代以来,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准确研判新疆工作的新方位、新变化,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工作总目标,形成了新时代党的治疆方略,引领新疆迈入历史上最好的发展时期。习近平总书记强调:“做好新疆工作,要完整准确贯彻新时代党的治疆方略,牢牢扭住新疆工作总目标,依法治疆、团结稳疆、文化润疆、富民兴疆、长期建疆”,提出“开展文化润疆首先要解决向东看还是向西看的问题”“要以增强认同为目标,深入开展文化润疆”“加强文化润疆、注重以文化人”等一系列关于文化润疆的重要论断。

Culture is the soul of a nation, and popular sentiment is the greatest politics. Cultivating Xinjiang through culture is an important component of the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era. It is a major decision made based on Xinjiang’s history and reality, with an eye on the present and the long term. It is an important measure to unite people’s hearts, build consensus, and gather strength. Cultivating Xinjiang through culture profoundly reveals the inherent laws of advancing the modernization of the border governance system and governance capacity, providing a fundamental guideline for promoting various undertakings in Xinjiang, especially cultural development, under the new situation. It must be understood from the height of a long-term strategy and a fundamental measure, and its historical logic, theoretical value, and practical essence must be accurately grasped.

文化是民族的灵魂,民心是最大的政治。文化润疆是新时代党的治疆方略的重要组成部分,是基于新疆历史和现实、着眼当前和长远作出的重大决策,是凝聚人心、凝聚共识、凝聚力量的重要举措。文化润疆深刻揭示了推进边疆治理体系和治理能力现代化的内在规律,为新形势下推动新疆各项事业尤其是文化建设事业发展提供了根本遵循,必须站在长远之策和固本之举的高度深刻理解其重大创新意义,准确把握其历史逻辑、理论价值和实践要义。

Cultivating Xinjiang through culture is an original and iconic concept of the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era. It is necessary to deeply grasp the historical confidence, historical consciousness, and historical responsibility it manifests.

文化润疆是新时代党的治疆方略的原创性概念标识性概念,要深刻把握其所彰显的历史自信、历史自觉、历史担当

Observe human culture to transform the world. [1]1 The Two Integrations refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping has always placed cultural construction in a prominent position in border governance, drawing on the experiences and lessons of past central regimes in governing Xinjiang, inheriting and developing the Party’s valuable experience in governing Xinjiang, and making cultivating Xinjiang through culture a strategic policy for achieving social stability and lasting peace in Xinjiang. He has made important expositions on a series of major issues, such as why to cultivate Xinjiang through culture, how culture can cultivate Xinjiang, and how to cultivate Xinjiang through culture, making cultivating Xinjiang through culture an original and iconic concept of the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era.

观乎人文,化成天下。习近平总书记始终把文化建设摆在边疆治理突出位置,注重汲取历代中央政权治理新疆的经验教训,继承和发展我们党治疆的宝贵经验,将文化润疆作为实现新疆社会稳定和长治久安的战略方针,作出了关于为何文化润疆、文化何以润疆、文化如何润疆等一系列重大问题的重要论述,使文化润疆成为新时代党的治疆方略的原创性概念标识性概念。

Identification with Chinese culture has historically been the foundation for the flourishing and development of the cultures of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Cultivating Xinjiang through culture is the inheritance and development of China’s rich historical experience in border governance. The “question of east or west” — “whether to look east or look west” — is essentially a question of cultural belonging, political identity, and popular support. Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been a region where diverse cultures converge and coexist, and it has been a key area in China’s border governance. Since the Western Han Dynasty established the Protectorate of the Western Regions in 60 BCE, [2]2 The Second Integration refers specifically to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the best of traditional Chinese culture. China’s successive central regimes have governed Xinjiang for over 2,000 years, accumulating a wealth of governance concepts and historical experience. One of these is consistently placing the promotion of mainstream values and fine traditional Chinese culture as an indispensable part of governing Xinjiang. From promoting the Chinese written language to implementing the institutions and laws of the Central Plains, from disseminating classic Confucian texts to promoting Confucian ideology and culture, from expanding the influence of the Chinese legal system to integrating the geographical, historical, and cultural symbols of the Western Regions to create unique frontier poetry, successive central regimes have always strengthened cultural construction, promoted cultural exchange, and enhanced cultural identity, allowing the cultures of various ethnic groups to learn from each other, integrate, and be inclusive, converging into Chinese culture with strong cohesion and appeal, leading the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to unite in heart and spirit. Historically, the more effective the central dynasty’s governance of Xinjiang and the more stable society was, the smoother the exchange and integration between the cultures of Xinjiang’s ethnic groups and the culture of the Central Plains, the more obvious the characteristics of diversity in unity and inclusiveness, and the more progressive the cultures of Xinjiang’s ethnic groups. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Chinese civilization has never replaced diverse cultures with a single culture, but rather has gathered diverse cultures into a common culture, resolving conflicts and building consensus.” The successful path of the Chinese nation integrating a vast territory and numerous ethnic groups into a diverse yet unified whole, the valuable experience of central regimes in transforming people through culture and educating people through virtue, and the practical form of the cultures of Xinjiang’s ethnic groups rooted in the fertile soil of Chinese civilization, “intertwined with each other,” fully demonstrate that cultivating Xinjiang through culture has a profound historical foundation and is the will of the people, the trend of the times, and a historical necessity.

中华文化认同自古是新疆各民族文化繁荣发展之基,文化润疆是对我国边疆治理丰富历史经验的传承与发展。“向东看还是向西看”的“东西之问”,本质上是文化归属之问、政治认同之问、人心向背之问。新疆自古就是多元文化荟萃、多种文化并存的地区,是我国边疆治理的重镇。自公元前60年西汉设立西域都护府起,我国历代中央政权对新疆的治理历经2000多年发展,积累了丰富的治理理念和历史经验。其中一条,就是始终将弘扬主流价值和中华优秀传统文化作为治理新疆不可或缺的重要内容。从推行汉语言文字到施行中原典章制度,从传播儒家经典文本到推广儒家思想文化,从扩大中华法系影响到融合西域地理历史人文意象符号成就独具特色的边塞诗歌,历代中央政权始终通过加强文化建设、推动文化交流、增进文化认同,让各民族文化互鉴融通、兼收并蓄,汇入具有强大凝聚力和吸引力的中华文化,引领新疆各民族人心归聚、精神相依。历史上,中央王朝对新疆的治理越是有效、社会越是稳定,新疆各民族文化和中原文化的交流交融就越畅通,多元一体、兼容并蓄的特征就越明显,新疆各民族文化就越进步。习近平总书记指出:“中华文明从来不用单一文化代替多元文化,而是由多元文化汇聚成共同文化,化解冲突,凝聚共识。”中华民族由广土巨族整合成多元一体的成功路径,中央政权以文化人、以德育人的宝贵经验,新疆各民族文化扎根中华文明沃土“你中有我、我中有你”的实践形态,充分说明文化润疆具有深厚历史基础,是人心所向、大势所趋、历史必然。

Upholding the Party’s cultural leadership is a major matter concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state. “Cultivating Xinjiang through culture” represents the inheritance and innovation of the valuable experience of the Chinese Communist Party in leading the people to govern, stabilize, and revitalize Xinjiang. As the faithful representative of the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups in China, the Chinese Communist Party has, since its inception, always paid attention to the fate of Xinjiang and cared for the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Early Party congresses, including the Second, Third, and Sixth National Congresses, all adopted relevant resolutions on the Xinjiang issue. [3]3 Chinese-path modernization is the official term for China’s model of modernization, distinct from Western models, as defined by the CPC. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Party Central Committee dispatched a number of outstanding Party cadres to work in Xinjiang, among whom an important task was to carry out cultural construction and spread advanced ideas. Publications such as *Xinjiang Daily* and *The Anti-Imperialist Front* became important battlefronts for public opinion struggle, and institutions such as Xinjiang College, hailed as the “Second Anti-Japanese University,” became important high grounds for ideological guidance. [4]4 The New Era refers to the period beginning with the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, characterized by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Holding high the banner of the Anti-Japanese National United Front, they carried out anti-Japanese propaganda and mobilization, paying particular attention to using literary, musical, and theatrical artistic methods to stimulate the patriotic enthusiasm of the people of all ethnic groups. A number of influential outstanding literary and artistic works emerged, and a number of progressive elements actively threw themselves into the revolutionary torrent. Xinjiang thus became a stable rear area for the nationwide War of Resistance. After the founding of New China, the Chinese Communist Party led the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to consolidate the newborn people’s democratic regime, establish a new socialist type of ethnic relations, institute the socialist system, and implement the system of regional ethnic autonomy, laying a solid foundation for the governance of the northwestern frontier of New China. In the historical process of revolution, construction, and reform, the Party Central Committee attached great importance to implementing patriotic education in the Xinjiang region, strengthening basic national education, and providing universal educational opportunities to groups such as farmers, herders, and women who historically lacked access to education; it attached great importance to the excavation, inheritance, and protection of the excellent traditional cultures of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, insisting on creative transformation and innovative development, encouraging mutual learning of languages and scripts among ethnic groups, promoting inter-ethnic exchanges, interactions, and integration, and respecting the freedom of religious belief of all ethnic groups; it attached great importance to promoting the development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries, advancing the modernization of the cultures of all ethnic groups, strengthening foreign cultural exchanges, and enhancing cultural confidence through the mutual learning of different cultures. Entering the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has consistently regarded culture as an important element in coordinating development and security, placing the firming of cultural confidence, enhancement of cultural identity, and safeguarding of cultural security in an important position for governing, stabilizing, and revitalizing Xinjiang. Within the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, he explicitly proposed “cultivating Xinjiang through culture” as an original and iconic concept, transforming the attractiveness and cohesion of ideology and spirit into the penetrating power and vitality of frontier governance. “Cultivating Xinjiang through culture” not only provides a powerful ideological weapon for leading Xinjiang’s work to uphold fundamental principles and break new ground amidst complex and volatile circumstances, and to advance victoriously amidst contradictions and risks, but also promotes the effective protection of cultural heritage and the preservation of historical context; it has enabled the flourishing development of literary and artistic creation, with a profusion of fine works; it has brought cultural resources directly to the grassroots, allowing for the sharing of rich achievements; and it has fostered the integrated development of cultural and tourism industries, highlighting unique charm. The cause of cultural construction in Xinjiang has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic transformations, marking a milestone in the history of the Party’s work in Xinjiang.

坚持党的文化领导权是事关党和国家前途命运的大事,文化润疆是对中国共产党领导人民治疆稳疆兴疆宝贵经验的继承与创新。中国共产党作为中国各族人民根本利益的忠实代表,自诞生之日起就始终关注新疆命运、牵挂新疆各族人民。党的第二次代表大会、第三次代表大会、第六次代表大会等早期会议都就新疆问题作出相关决议。抗战时期,党中央选派一批优秀党员干部到新疆工作,其中一项重要任务就是进行文化建设、传播先进思想。《新疆日报》《反帝战线》等一批刊物成为舆论斗争的重要阵地,被誉为“抗大第二”的新疆学院等一批学校成为思想引领的重要高地。高举抗日民族统一战线旗帜,开展抗日宣传动员,尤其注重通过文学、音乐、话剧等文艺方式激发各族人民爱国热情,一批具有广泛影响力的优秀文艺作品应运而生,一批先进分子积极投身革命洪流。新疆因此成为全民族抗战稳固的大后方。新中国成立后,中国共产党领导新疆各族人民巩固新生人民民主政权,建立社会主义新型民族关系,确立社会主义制度,实行民族区域自治制度,奠定了新中国西北边疆治理的坚实基础。在革命、建设和改革的历史进程中,党中央高度重视在新疆地区实施爱国主义教育,加强国民基础教育,向历史上缺少受教育机会的农牧民、妇女等群体提供普遍教育机会;高度重视新疆各民族优秀传统文化的挖掘、传承与保护,坚持创造性转化、创新性发展,鼓励各民族相互学习语言文字,促进各民族交往交流交融,尊重各民族宗教信仰自由;高度重视推动文化事业和文化产业发展,推进各民族文化现代化,加强对外文化交流,在不同文化交流互鉴中增强文化自信。进入新时代,习近平总书记始终把文化作为统筹发展和安全的重要元素,把坚定文化自信、增进文化认同、维护文化安全摆在治疆稳疆兴疆的重要位置,在新时代党的治疆方略中明确提出文化润疆这一原创性概念标识性概念,将思想上精神上的吸引力凝聚力转化为边疆治理的穿透力生命力。文化润疆不仅为引领新疆工作在错综复杂形势中守正创新、在应对矛盾风险中胜利前进提供了强大思想武器,而且推动文化遗产得到有效保护,守护历史文脉;文艺创作实现繁荣发展,精品佳作涌现;文化资源直达基层,共享丰富成果;文旅产业融合发展,彰显独特魅力。新疆文化建设事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革,在党的新疆工作历史上具有里程碑意义。

To fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, it is essential to deeply understand that “cultivating Xinjiang through culture” plays a fundamental role in rallying people’s hearts, building consensus, and gathering strength. The Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era is imbued with the profound insights of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core into Xinjiang’s development and its deep reflections on Xinjiang’s work. It is a scientific theoretical system and an open system of thought that connects history, the present, and the future. The five major aspects—governing Xinjiang according to law, stabilizing Xinjiang through unity, cultivating Xinjiang through culture, enriching Xinjiang through prosperity, and building up Xinjiang over the long term—each have their own connotations, but together form a comprehensive, multi-dimensional whole. Within this, it is necessary to see that “cultivating Xinjiang through culture” provides moral and cultural support for governing Xinjiang according to law, lays the ideological foundation for stabilizing Xinjiang through unity, adds momentum for economic and social development to enriching Xinjiang through prosperity, and plays a role in consolidating souls and forging spirit for building up Xinjiang over the long term. It is also necessary to see that governing Xinjiang according to law provides important institutional guarantees for “cultivating Xinjiang through culture,” stabilizing Xinjiang through unity gathers a foundation of popular support for “cultivating Xinjiang through culture,” enriching Xinjiang through prosperity lays an important material foundation for “cultivating Xinjiang through culture,” and building up Xinjiang over the long term provides an important source of strength for “cultivating Xinjiang through culture.” “Cultivating Xinjiang through culture” holds an important position in the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, strengthening the foundation, consolidating the base, and benefiting long-term development. As an original and iconic concept of the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, “cultivating Xinjiang through culture” closely revolves around the strategic issues concerning social stability and lasting peace. It adheres to the stance of Chinese culture, inherits the genes of Chinese culture, and connects the bloodline of Chinese culture. It takes forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and advancing the building of the Chinese national community as its main line, and aims to enhance the identification of cadres and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Chinese Communist Party, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is guided by the core socialist values, and takes the development of advanced socialist culture, the promotion of revolutionary culture, the inheritance of fine traditional Chinese culture, and the construction of a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation as its rich connotations. It employs the scientific methods of cultural cultivation and emotional infiltration that are like spring breeze and rain, moistening things silently, exerting a subtle influence, and nourishing the soul. “Cultivating Xinjiang through culture” involves both innovations and breakthroughs in theoretical viewpoints and deployments and requirements in practical work. It governs both the present and the long term, and embodies both epistemology and methodology. This important concept guides Xinjiang in practice to educate and guide people of all ethnic groups, with a more proactive stance and more forceful measures, to gather the Chinese heart and forge the Chinese soul, to develop and prosper Chinese culture, including the cultures of all ethnic groups, to continuously promote the systematic protection of cultural heritage, to constantly stimulate cultural innovation and creativity, to promote the flourishing development of socialist culture, and to better meet the new expectations of people of all ethnic groups for spiritual and cultural life. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has taken deeper root in people’s hearts, the identification with Chinese culture has been continuously strengthened, the sense of community for the Chinese nation among cadres and people of all ethnic groups has been further forged, the ideological foundation for social stability and lasting peace in Xinjiang has become more solid, and a new realm has been opened up in the theory and practice of the Chinese Communist Party’s governance of Xinjiang.

完整准确全面贯彻新时代党的治疆方略,深刻认识文化润疆具有凝聚人心、凝聚共识、凝聚力量的基础作用。新时代党的治疆方略饱含着以习近平同志为核心的党中央对新疆发展的深刻洞察和对新疆工作的深邃思考,是一个贯通历史、现实、未来的科学理论体系和开放思想体系。依法治疆、团结稳疆、文化润疆、富民兴疆、长期建疆这五大方面既有各自内涵,更是一个全方位、多层面的整体。其中,既要看到文化润疆为依法治疆提供道德文化支撑,为团结稳疆打牢思想意识基础,为富民兴疆增添经济社会发展动力,为长期建疆发挥凝心铸魂作用;也要看到依法治疆为文化润疆提供重要制度保障,团结稳疆为文化润疆汇聚民心基础,富民兴疆为文化润疆奠定重要物质基础,长期建疆为文化润疆提供重要力量源泉;文化润疆在新时代党的治疆方略中具有强根本、打基础、利长远的重要地位。作为新时代党的治疆方略的原创性概念标识性概念,文化润疆紧紧围绕关系社会稳定和长治久安的战略问题,坚守中华文化立场、传承中华文化基因、贯通中华文化血脉,以铸牢中华民族共同体意识、推进中华民族共同体建设为主线,以增强新疆各族干部群众对伟大祖国、中华民族、中华文化、中国共产党、中国特色社会主义的认同为目标,以社会主义核心价值观为引领,以发展社会主义先进文化、弘扬革命文化、传承中华优秀传统文化、构筑中华民族共有精神家园为丰富内涵,以春风化雨、润物无声、潜移默化、滋养心灵的文化涵育与情感浸润为科学方法。文化润疆既有理论观点上的创新和突破,又有工作实践上的部署和要求,既管当下又管长远,既体现认识论又彰显方法论。这一重要理念在实践中指导新疆以更加积极的姿态、更加有力的措施教育引导各族群众凝聚中国心、铸牢中华魂,发展繁荣包括各民族文化在内的中华文化,持续推进文化遗产系统性保护,不断激发文化创新创造活力,推动社会主义文化繁荣发展,更好满足各族群众精神文化生活新期待。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想更加深入人心,中华文化认同不断增强,各族干部群众中华民族共同体意识进一步铸牢,新疆社会稳定和长治久安的思想根基更加稳固,开辟了中国共产党治疆理论与实践的新境界。

“Cultivating Xinjiang through culture” is a creative and representative achievement of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture taking root and bearing fruit in the border ethnic regions. It is necessary to deeply grasp the cultural concepts, cultural values, and cultural sentiments it embodies.

文化润疆是习近平文化思想在边疆民族地区落地生根的创造性代表性成果,要深刻把握其所蕴含的文化理念、文化价值、文化情怀

Literature carries the Way, and culture transforms people. The Chinese Communist Party is a Marxist political party with a high degree of cultural consciousness and cultural confidence. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, from the strategic height concerning the future and destiny of the Party, the long-term stability and security of the state, and the cohesion and centripetal force of the nation, based on the overall situation of the Party’s and the state’s undertakings, has insisted on placing cultural construction in a prominent position in governance, made a series of major deployments, creatively proposed a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new judgments, formed Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, and erected the Party’s cultural banner

文以载道,文以化人。中国共产党是具有高度文化自觉和文化自信的马克思主义政党。以习近平同志为核心的党中央从事关党的前途命运、事关国家长治久安、事关民族凝聚力和向心力的战略高度,立足党和国家事业发展全局,坚持把文化建设摆在治国理政的突出位置,作出一系列重大部署,创造性提出一系列新思想新观点新论断,形成了习近平文化思想,树立起新时代党的文化旗帜。习近平文化思想是明体达用、体用贯通的科学体系,彰显着鲜明的问题导向和实践导向。文化润疆就是习近平文化思想在边疆民族地区落地生根的典型代表。

Enriching Xinjiang through culture manifests the brilliance of truth of the Two Integrations[1]1 The Two Integrations refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture.. Without a high degree of cultural confidence, without cultural prosperity, there can be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “On the deep foundation of over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization to open up and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture is the only correct path.” Enriching Xinjiang through culture adheres to the organic integration of the theoretical logic of Marxism with the historical and practical logic of Chinese cultural development, proceeding from the objective realities of contemporary Chinese cultural construction and the rich practice of border governance. It both inherits and innovates Marxist cultural theory, emphasizing the Party’s cultural leadership, and absorbs and develops a series of important values from the best of traditional Chinese culture concerning transforming people through culture, educating people through culture, combining rites and law, prioritizing virtue over punishment, and cultural exchange and coexistence of civilizations. With a broad historical depth and civilizational perspective, it deepens the understanding of the laws governing the governance of Xinjiang. Enriching Xinjiang through culture is grounded in the magnificent 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, adheres to the “soul vein” of Marxism and the “root vein” of the best of traditional Chinese culture, and contains the historical necessity, cultural connotation, and unique advantages of the Chinese path. It connects the past, present, and future of the exchanges, interactions, and integration among the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, which began with the Jade Road, the Painted Pottery Road, the Millet Road, and the Wheat Road. It integrates communist faith and socialist conviction with the millennia-old ideals of the Chinese nation, fully embodying the mutual compatibility and mutual achievement of Marxism and the best of traditional Chinese culture. It powerfully demonstrates the theoretical value of the Second Integration[2]2 The Second Integration refers specifically to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the best of traditional Chinese culture. as “another ideological emancipation,” and becomes a vivid interpretation of the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization—continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peace—in advancing the modernization of the border governance system and governance capacity.

文化润疆彰显“两个结合”的真理光辉。没有高度的文化自信,没有文化的繁荣兴盛,就没有中华民族伟大复兴。习近平总书记指出:“在五千多年中华文明深厚基础上开辟和发展中国特色社会主义,把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合是必由之路。”文化润疆坚持马克思主义理论逻辑和中国文化发展历史逻辑、实践逻辑有机结合,从当代中国文化建设客观实际和边疆治理丰富实践出发,既继承和创新了马克思主义文化理论,强调坚持党的文化领导权,又吸收和发展了中华优秀传统文化中关于以文化人、以文育人,关于礼法合治、德主刑辅,关于文化交流、文明共生等一系列重要价值理念,以宏阔的历史纵深和文明视野深化了对治理新疆的规律性认识。文化润疆立足波澜壮阔的中华5000多年文明史,坚持马克思主义“魂脉”和中华优秀传统文化“根脉”,蕴含中国道路的历史必然、文化内涵与独特优势,贯通新疆各族人民从玉石之路、彩陶之路、粟米之路、小麦之路就开始交往交流交融的过去、现在与未来,把共产主义信仰、社会主义信念与中华民族千年理想相融通,充分体现了马克思主义同中华优秀传统文化彼此契合、互相成就,有力彰显了“第二个结合”是“又一次的思想解放”的理论价值,成为中华文明连续性、创新性、统一性、包容性、和平性等突出特性在推进边疆治理体系和治理能力现代化中的生动诠释。

Enriching Xinjiang through culture manifests the spiritual power of upholding the subjectivity of Chinese culture. Cultural identity is the deepest form of identity, the root of ethnic unity and the soul of ethnic harmony. A person cannot abandon or betray their own family, and a nation even less can abandon or betray its own culture. For any culture to stand firm and go far, to have leading power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power, it must have its own subjectivity. Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been a gateway and intermediary for Chinese civilization opening westward, a place of continuous population migration and settlement for thousands of years, and has always been an important hub for the coexistence and exchange of multiple cultures. In the historical process of the development of the Chinese nation, the cultures of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang have been marked by the pluralistic and integrated nature of Chinese culture from the very beginning, always rooted in the fertile soil of China. Their exchanges, interactions, and integration with the cultures of the Central Plains have continuously strengthened, with mutual inclusion and deep integration, making them an inseparable part of Chinese culture and a shared spiritual wealth of the Chinese nation. Amid the global cultural currents, enriching Xinjiang through culture upholds the stance of Chinese culture, consolidates the subjectivity of Chinese culture, emphasizes forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and focuses on fully leveraging the role of core socialist values in cultivating roots and souls, enlightening minds, and purifying the turbid and promoting the clear. It emphasizes deepening education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism. It stresses the promotion and popularization of the national common language and script, promoting the systematic protection of cultural heritage, flourishing and developing artistic and cultural creation, and excavating the ideas, humanistic spirit, and moral norms contained in the best of traditional Chinese culture. It promotes the creative transformation and innovative development of the cultures of all ethnic groups, using the unique concepts, wisdom, bearing, and charm of Chinese culture to enhance the deep-seated confidence and pride of people of all ethnic groups, strengthen their sense of identification with and belonging to the Chinese nation, and better build the shared spiritual home of the Chinese nation. Enriching Xinjiang through culture endows border governance with deeper cultural connotations and broader civilizational dimensions, gathering powerful Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength across the Tianshan Mountains, and consolidating the ideological foundation for social stability and lasting peace in Xinjiang through cultural transformation.

文化润疆彰显坚守中华民族文化主体性的精神力量。文化认同是最深层次的认同,是民族团结之根、民族和睦之魂。一个人不能抛弃和背叛自己的家庭,一个民族更不能抛弃和背叛自己的文化。任何文化要立得住、行得远,要有引领力、凝聚力、塑造力、辐射力,就必须有自己的主体性。新疆自古是中华文明向西开放的门户和中介,是数千年持续不断的人群迁徙聚居地,始终是多种文化并存、多元文化交流的重要枢纽。在中华民族发展历史进程中,新疆各民族文化从一开始就打上了中华文化多元一体的印记,始终扎根中华沃土,同中原文化的交往交流交融不断加强,包容互鉴、深度融合,是中华文化不可分割的一部分,成为中华民族共有的精神财富。在世界文化激荡中,文化润疆坚守中华文化立场、巩固中华民族文化主体性,强调铸牢中华民族共同体意识,注重充分发挥社会主义核心价值观培根铸魂、启智润心、激浊扬清的作用,注重深化爱国主义、集体主义、社会主义教育。强调推广普及国家通用语言文字,推动文化遗产系统性保护,繁荣发展文化艺术创作,挖掘中华优秀传统文化蕴含的思想观念、人文精神、道德规范。促进各民族文化创造性转化和创新性发展,用中华文化独一无二的理念、智慧、气度、神韵,增强各族群众内心深处的自信和自豪,增强其对中华民族的认同感、归属感,更好构筑中华民族共有精神家园。文化润疆赋予边疆治理更为深刻的文化内涵和更为宽广的文明维度,在天山南北凝聚起强大的中国精神、中国价值、中国力量,在以文化人中夯实了新疆社会稳定和长治久安的思想根基。

Enriching Xinjiang through culture manifests the world significance of creating a new form of human civilization. The ethnic issue is an important proposition in border governance both in ancient and modern times, at home and abroad. In today’s world, whether large or small countries, Eastern or Western, developed or developing, many are multi-ethnic nations, all facing the strategic task of handling ethnic issues in border governance. History and reality tell us: there is no one-size-fits-all model for solving this problem; the key is to find the correct path that suits the country’s actual conditions, which is also an important manifestation of national governance capacity. The Chinese nation is a great nation. In the long course of development, all ethnic groups in China have jointly opened up the vast territory of the motherland, jointly created a unified multi-ethnic country, jointly written the brilliant history of China, jointly created the splendid Chinese culture, and jointly cultivated the great national spirit, gradually forming a community of shared destiny that is blood-integrated, flesh-and-bone connected, interwoven, pluralistic and integrated, and indivisible. Enriching Xinjiang through culture conforms to the general trend of the Chinese nation moving from history to the future, from tradition to modernity, and from pluralism to integration. Guided by the sense of community for the Chinese nation, it guides all ethnic groups to establish correct values, strengthen cultural identity and ideals and beliefs, and unite the people of all ethnic groups, holding together tightly like pomegranate seeds. Enriching Xinjiang through culture reveals the vitality of Chinese civilization as the only continuous civilization in the world that has developed to this day in the form of a state, interprets the creativity of Chinese civilization as a composite civilization integrating agricultural, grassland, and maritime civilizations, and demonstrates the affinity of Chinese civilization as a constructive civilization that uses cultural exchange to transcend cultural barriers, mutual learning to transcend cultural conflicts, and coexistence to transcend cultural superiority. It will inevitably create a new form of human civilization with lasting vitality and far-reaching influence in the historical process of promoting the building of the Chinese national community and constructing the shared spiritual home of the Chinese nation.

文化润疆彰显创造人类文明新形态的世界意义。民族问题是古今中外边疆治理的重要命题。当今世界,无论是大国还是小国,无论是东方还是西方,无论是发达国家还是发展中国家,许多国家是多民族国家,都面临着在边疆治理中处理好民族问题的战略任务。历史和现实告诉我们:解决这一问题,没有放之四海而皆准的模式,关键是要找到符合本国实际的正确道路,这也是国家治理能力的重要体现。中华民族是世界上伟大的民族。在漫长的发展历程中,我国各民族共同开拓了祖国的辽阔疆域,共同缔造了统一的多民族国家,共同书写了辉煌的中国历史,共同创造了灿烂的中华文化,共同培育了伟大的民族精神,逐渐形成血脉相融、骨肉相连,你中有我、我中有你,多元一体、不可分割的命运共同体。文化润疆顺应中华民族从历史走向未来、从传统走向现代、从多元凝聚为一体的发展大势,以中华民族共同体意识为统领,引导各民族树立正确的价值观念,坚定文化认同和理想信念,使各民族人民凝心聚力,像石榴籽一样紧紧抱在一起。文化润疆揭示了中华文明成为世界上唯一绵延不断且以国家形态发展至今的连续性文明的生命力所在,诠释了中华文明成为融合农耕、草原、海洋文明的复合型文明的创造力所在,展现了中华文明作为用文明交流超越文明隔阂、用文明互鉴超越文明冲突、用文明共存超越文明优越的建设型文明的亲和力所在,必将在推进中华民族共同体建设、构筑中华民族共有精神家园的历史进程中创造出具有持久生命力和深远影响力的人类文明新形态。

Enriching Xinjiang through culture is a fundamental and strategic plan for promoting the building of the Chinese national community in the process of Chinese-path modernization[3]3 Chinese-path modernization is the official term for China’s model of modernization, distinct from Western models, as defined by the CPC.. It is necessary to deeply grasp the practice-oriented, practice-character, and practice-method it emphasizes.

文化润疆是在中国式现代化进程中推进中华民族共同体建设的根本性战略性谋划,要深刻把握其所强调的实践导向、实践品格、实践方法

Small virtues flow like streams; great virtues transform and nourish all. Advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization is the central task of the Communist Party of China on the new journey of the New Era[4]4 The New Era refers to the period beginning with the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, characterized by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation is the main line of the Party’s ethnic work in the New Era, and also the main line of all work in ethnic regions.” In the process of Chinese-path modernization, forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and promoting the building of the Chinese national community is the Party’s strategic and inevitable choice in actively responding to changes in the world, the times, and history. Enriching Xinjiang through culture will further promote the people of all ethnic groups to firmly establish the community concept of sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace, life and death, and destiny, forming a powerful spiritual bond of unity and solidarity, and gathering a huge joint force to realize the Chinese Dream together.

小德川流,大德敦化。以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴,是新时代新征程中国共产党的中心任务。习近平总书记指出:“铸牢中华民族共同体意识是新时代党的民族工作的主线,也是民族地区各项工作的主线。”在中国式现代化进程中铸牢中华民族共同体意识,推进中华民族共同体建设,是我们党积极面对世界之变、时代之变、历史之变的战略抉择、必然选择。文化润疆将进一步推动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,形成人心凝聚、团结奋进的强大精神纽带,汇聚起同心共圆中国梦的巨大合力。

Advancing Chinese-path modernization requires placing greater emphasis on shared contribution and shared benefits. In realizing Chinese-path modernization, not a single ethnic group can be left behind. Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all the people; it is necessary to promote the common united struggle and common prosperous development of all ethnic groups, and to jointly move toward socialist modernization. At present, the overall social situation in Xinjiang has achieved a historic transformation from chaos to stability and from stability to governance, and various tasks to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation have been solidly advanced. However, ideological struggles in different fields, of different types, and in different forms remain acute; the struggle against separatism has achieved important periodic results, yet some countries have intensified their containment and suppression, and some forces have continuously escalated and transformed their infiltration and harassment, making the task of achieving lasting peace and order in Xinjiang still extremely arduous. On the new journey of the New Era, to strengthen culturally enriching Xinjiang and focus on transforming people through culture, it is necessary to uphold the Party’s leadership over ideological work, uphold and consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological domain, take the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as the starting point and ultimate goal, continuously enhance the conscious identification of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang with the Chinese nation and Chinese civilization, promote the firm establishment among people of all ethnic groups of the community concept of sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace, life and death, and destiny, and better build the common spiritual home of the Chinese nation. Firmly grasp Xinjiang’s strategic positioning in comprehensively building a modern socialist country, focus on the overall goal of maintaining social stability and lasting peace and order, take forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation as the main line, endow reform and development with the significance of forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, with the significance of upholding unity and opposing separatism, and with the significance of improving people’s livelihoods and rallying popular support, so that the community of the Chinese nation becomes unbreakable. By strengthening the ideological Great Wall, effectively resist the infiltration and subversion of various extremist and separatist ideologies, make every effort to maintain the overall stability of Xinjiang’s society, persist in grasping the grassroots, strengthening the foundation, and consolidating the fundamentals, and further consolidate the people’s line of defense against terrorism and extremism through culturally enriching Xinjiang. Leverage Xinjiang’s advantages in location, resources, and policies, anchor the “five major strategic positioning” [5]5 The “five major strategic positioning” refers to the roles assigned to Xinjiang by the Party Central Committee: an Asia-Europe golden passageway and a bridgehead for opening up to the west, a strategic fulcrum for the new development pattern, a national strategic guarantee base for energy and resources, an important supply base for high-quality agricultural and livestock products, and a strategic barrier for safeguarding national geopolitical security. entrusted by the Party Central Committee, and use the power of culture to contribute more to building the Asia-Europe golden passageway and the bridgehead for opening up to the west, the strategic fulcrum for constructing a new development pattern, the national strategic guarantee base for energy and resources, the important supply base for high-quality agricultural and livestock products nationwide, and the strategic barrier for safeguarding national geopolitical security. Place the protection and improvement of people’s livelihoods in a priority position, consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation, vigorously develop social undertakings, enable people of all ethnic groups to widely participate in the development process and share the fruits of development, and jointly build a harmonious, prosperous, civilized, well-settled, and ecologically sound modern socialist Xinjiang.

推进中国式现代化建设要更加注重共建共享。实现中国式现代化,一个民族也不能少。中国式现代化是全体人民共同富裕的现代化,要推动各民族共同团结奋斗、共同繁荣发展,共同走向社会主义现代化。当前,新疆社会大局实现由乱到稳、由稳向治的历史性转变,铸牢中华民族共同体意识各项工作扎实推进,但不同领域不同类型不同形态的意识形态斗争仍然尖锐;反分裂斗争取得重要阶段性成果,但一些国家遏制打压变本加厉、一些势力渗透滋扰不断变形升级,实现新疆长治久安任务仍然十分艰巨。新时代新征程,加强文化润疆、注重以文化人,必须坚持党对意识形态工作的领导,坚持和巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域中的指导地位,以实现中华民族伟大复兴为出发点和落脚点,不断增进新疆各民族对中华民族和中华文明的自觉认同,推动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,更好构筑中华民族共有精神家园。牢牢把握新疆在全面建设社会主义现代化国家中的战略定位,扭住社会稳定和长治久安工作总目标,以铸牢中华民族共同体意识为主线,赋予改革发展以铸牢中华民族共同体意识的意义,以维护统一、反对分裂的意义,以改善民生、凝聚人心的意义,让中华民族共同体牢不可破。以坚固思想长城有效抵御各种极端、分裂思想的渗透颠覆,全力维护新疆社会大局稳定,坚持抓基层、强基础、固根本,在文化润疆中进一步筑牢反恐维稳的人民防线。发挥好新疆区位、资源和政策优势,锚定中央赋予的“五大战略定位”,以文化之力为打造亚欧黄金通道和向西开放的桥头堡、构建新发展格局的战略支点、全国能源资源战略保障基地、全国优质农牧产品重要供给基地、维护国家地缘安全的战略屏障多作贡献。把保障和改善民生放在优先位置,巩固拓展脱贫攻坚成果,大力发展社会事业,让各族群众广泛参与发展进程、共享发展成果,共同建设团结和谐、繁荣富裕、文明进步、安居乐业、生态良好的社会主义现代化新疆。

Forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation requires placing greater emphasis on being tangible, perceptible, and effective. Ethnic unity is the lifeline of all ethnic groups in our country, and the sense of community for the Chinese nation is the foundation of ethnic unity. Only when each ethnic group closely links its own destiny with the destiny of the country and the Chinese nation can the cause of ethnic unity and progress have a solid foundation. Forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation is an inevitable requirement for consolidating the ideological foundation for the development of ethnic relations in our country, for promoting the Chinese nation to become a community with a shared future with higher recognition and stronger cohesion, and also an inevitable requirement for safeguarding the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. On the new journey of the New Era, to strengthen culturally enriching Xinjiang and focus on transforming people through culture, it is necessary both to plan long-term strategies and implement fundamental measures, establish the concept of “achievement need not be in my tenure” [6]6 “Achievement need not be in my tenure” (功成不必在我) is a Chinese idiom expressing a selfless attitude toward long-term work, emphasizing laying foundations for future success rather than seeking personal credit., and be determined to lay the groundwork and build the foundation for the eternal cause of the Chinese nation; and also to grasp things in a practical manner and work on details, implement the spirit of the nail [7]7 “Spirit of the nail” (钉钉子精神) is a metaphor popularized by Xi Jinping, meaning to work with persistence and precision, like driving a nail into a board. to solidly advance all work on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, promote commonality, enhance unity, and deepen integration. Incorporate education on the sense of community for the Chinese nation into cadre education, youth education, and social education in Xinjiang, continuously and deeply advance the youth “foundation-building” project [8]8 The youth “foundation-building” project (青少年“筑基”工程) is a Party-led initiative in Xinjiang to instill a sense of community for the Chinese nation in young people from an early age., comprehensively promote and popularize the national common language and script, comprehensively implement the use of nationally unified textbooks, better utilize the educational function of curricula, innovate pathways for practical education, create a cultural education environment, and construct a collaborative education pattern integrating family, school, and society, and integrating primary, secondary, and higher education, so that the awareness of “One Chinese family, working together to build the Chinese Dream” is implanted in children’s hearts from an early age. Strengthen ethnic interactions, exchanges, and integration, construct an inter-embedded social structure and community environment, and broaden the practical pathways for achieving all-round inter-embedding. Create social conditions for people of all ethnic groups to live, study, build, share, work, and enjoy together, orderly expand the scale of Xinjiang’s ethnic minority populations going to other regions within the country for education, employment, and development, promote deeper understanding and enhanced feelings among people of all ethnic groups through shared production, life, work, and study, encourage more close friends, harmonious neighbors, and happy marriages. Correct historical and cultural cognition, strengthen the protection and utilization of cultural relics and cultural heritage, enhance research on the history of the Chinese nation community, innovate various technologies such as the revitalization of cultural relic resources, use historical facts of ethnic interactions, archaeological artifacts, and cultural relics to construct from multiple angles and all-round a discourse system and effective carriers that demonstrate the commonality of Chinese culture and the historical facts of interactions, exchanges, and integration among ethnic groups in Xinjiang and other regions of the country, highlight Chinese cultural symbols and images of the Chinese nation that embody shared historical memory and are imprinted with common cultural genes, strengthen the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, carry forward and develop the excellent traditional cultures of all ethnic groups, promote the creative transformation and innovative development of the excellent traditional cultures of all ethnic groups, jointly create fine literary and artistic works with Chinese cultural heritage and integrated modern civilization, so that Chinese culture is fully displayed and reaches people’s hearts through physical objects, real scenes, and concrete events, and educate and guide people of all ethnic groups to cherish ethnic unity as they cherish their own eyes, and to treasure ethnic unity as they treasure their own lives.

铸牢中华民族共同体意识要更加注重有形有感有效。民族团结是我国各族人民的生命线,中华民族共同体意识是民族团结之本。各民族只有把自己的命运同国家的命运、中华民族的命运紧紧联系在一起,民族团结进步事业才能具有坚实根基。铸牢中华民族共同体意识,是夯实我国民族关系发展思想基础、推动中华民族成为认同度更高、凝聚力更强的命运共同体的必然要求,也是维护各民族根本利益、实现中华民族伟大复兴的必然要求。新时代新征程,加强文化润疆、注重以文化人,既要谋长远之策、行固本之举,树立“功成不必在我”的理念,立志为中华民族千秋伟业做铺垫、打基础;也要往实里抓、往细里做,以钉钉子精神抓实铸牢中华民族共同体意识各项工作,促进共同性、增强一体性、深化融合性。将中华民族共同体意识教育纳入新疆干部教育、青少年教育、社会教育,持续深入推进青少年“筑基”工程,全面推广普及国家通用语言文字,全面推行使用国家统编教材,更好发挥课程育人功能、创新实践育人路径、营造文化育人环境,构建家校社一体化、大中小一体化的协同育人格局,让“中华民族一家亲,同心共筑中国梦”的意识从小就植入孩子们的心灵。加强民族交往交流交融,构建互嵌式社会结构和社区环境,拓宽实现全方位嵌入的实践路径。创造各族群众共居共学、共建共享、共事共乐的社会条件,有序扩大新疆少数民族群众到国内其他地区受教育、找工作、谋发展的规模,促进各族群众在共同生产生活和工作学习中加深了解、增进感情,多结知心朋友、多做和睦邻居、多成美满姻缘。端正历史文化认知,加强文物和文化遗产保护利用,加强中华民族共同体历史等方面研究,创新文物资源活化等各项技术,用各民族交往的历史事实、考古实物、文化遗存,多角度全方位构建展现中华文化共同性、新疆同国内其他地区各民族交往交流交融历史事实的话语体系和有效载体,突出凝结着共同历史记忆、烙刻着共同文化基因的中华文化符号和中华民族形象,加强非物质文化遗产保护传承,把各民族优秀传统文化发扬光大,促进各民族优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展,共同打造具有中华文化底蕴、融合现代文明的文艺精品,让中华文化通过实物实景实事得到充分展现、直抵人心,教育引导各族群众像爱护自己的眼睛一样爱护民族团结,像珍视自己的生命一样珍视民族团结。

Cultivating core socialist values requires placing greater emphasis on entering the mind and penetrating the heart. Core values are the spiritual bond that sustains a nation and the common ideological and moral foundation of a country. Cultivating and promoting core socialist values, effectively integrating social consciousness, and maintaining social stability are important aspects of the modernization of the governance system and governance capacity in border areas. On the new journey of the New Era, to strengthen culturally enriching Xinjiang and focus on transforming people through culture, it is necessary to continuously promote the normalization and institutionalization of ideals and beliefs education, deepen education on patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, focus on strengthening propaganda and education on the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, the history of socialist development, and the history of the Chinese nation’s development, vigorously develop advanced socialist culture, promote revolutionary culture, inherit and carry forward excellent traditional Chinese culture, and inherit and develop the spirit of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps [9]9 The spirit of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (兵团精神) refers to the ethos of the military-agricultural units established in Xinjiang in 1954, emphasizing hard work, loyalty, and development in border areas., the spirit of the veterans [10]10 The spirit of the veterans (老兵精神) honors the contributions of demobilized soldiers who settled and developed Xinjiang after 1949., the spirit of the Populus euphratica [11]11 The spirit of the Populus euphratica (胡杨精神) symbolizes resilience and tenacity, inspired by the desert tree that thrives in harsh conditions, and is used to praise those working in Xinjiang’s challenging environments., the spirit of Kekeya [12]12 The spirit of Kekeya (柯柯牙精神) refers to the perseverance shown in the large-scale afforestation project in Aksu, Xinjiang, starting in 1986, to combat desertification., etc., continuously enhance the sense of identification and pride, and let core socialist values be implemented in detail, in small matters, and in practice through the process of moistening things silently and soothing the soul, transforming them into people’s emotional identification and behavioral habits. Leverage the guiding role of core socialist values in the creation of cultural-ethical progress, deeply implement projects such as the creation of civilized society, civic moral construction, and the cultivation of new people for the era, especially strengthen modern civilization education and science education for young people, guide people of all ethnic groups to break away from outdated customs and habits, move toward modernization in terms of ideology, concepts, spiritual interests, and lifestyles, and actively integrate into modern civilized life. Promote the Sinicization of religions in our country, strengthen ideological and political guidance for the religious community, improve the self-management level of the religious community, enhance the rule-of-law level in the governance of religious affairs, support the religious community in deeply carrying out de-radicalization, and consciously resist and prevent the infiltration of religious extremist ideologies. Fully implement the Party’s basic policy on religious work, actively guide religions to adapt to socialist society, and enable all religions in Xinjiang to play a positive role in promoting economic and social development.

培育社会主义核心价值观要更加注重入脑入心。核心价值观是一个民族赖以维系的精神纽带,是一个国家共同的思想道德基础。培育和弘扬社会主义核心价值观,有效整合社会意识、维护社会稳定,是边疆治理体系和治理能力现代化的重要方面。新时代新征程,加强文化润疆、注重以文化人,要持续推动理想信念教育常态化制度化,深化爱国主义、集体主义、社会主义教育,着力加强党史、新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史、中华民族发展史宣传教育,大力发展社会主义先进文化,弘扬革命文化,传承中华优秀传统文化,传承发展好兵团精神、老兵精神、胡杨精神、柯柯牙精神等,不断增强认同感、自豪感,让社会主义核心价值观在润物无声、熨帖心灵的过程中落细落小落实,转化为人们的情感认同和行为习惯。发挥社会主义核心价值观对精神文明创建的引领作用,深入实施文明创建、公民道德建设、时代新人培育等工程,尤其要加强对青少年的现代文明教育、科普教育,引导各族群众破除陈规陋俗,在思想观念、精神情趣、生活方式上向现代化迈进,积极融入现代文明生活。推进我国宗教中国化,加强对宗教界的思想政治引领,提高宗教界自我管理水平,提高宗教事务治理法治化水平,支持宗教界深入开展去极端化,自觉抵御和防范宗教极端思想渗透。全面贯彻党的宗教工作基本方针,积极引导宗教与社会主义社会相适应,让新疆各宗教在推动经济社会发展中发挥积极作用。

Telling the story of Xinjiang in the New Era must place greater emphasis on being credible, lovable, and respectable. Telling China’s story well and presenting a true, multi-dimensional, and comprehensive China is an important task for establishing a positive contemporary image of the country and enhancing its cultural soft power. Xinjiang’s work holds a special and significant position in the overall work of the Party and the state. Telling Xinjiang’s story well is an inherent part of telling China’s story well and is also an important mission of enriching Xinjiang through culture. Over the past 70 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has achieved a historic leap from a closed frontier to an open forefront, and from insufficient food and clothing to moderate prosperity in all respects. Unprecedented achievements have been made in economic and social development and in improving people’s livelihoods. The sense of gain, happiness, and security among people of all ethnic groups has significantly increased, placing Xinjiang in the best period of development in its history. This process is not only a history of the modernization of the border governance system and governance capacity but also a vivid practice of the CPC leading people of all ethnic groups to unite and strive together, forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. We are capable of handling Xinjiang’s affairs well, and of course, we are confident in telling Xinjiang’s story well. On the new journey of the New Era, strengthening the work of enriching Xinjiang through culture and focusing on educating people through culture requires concentrating on shaping perceptions, communicating public sentiment, and winning hearts and minds. We must tell the world, in a multi-level, all-round, and three-dimensional manner, the story of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core showing warm care for the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang; the story of people of all ethnic groups being as close as one family, tightly embracing each other like pomegranate seeds; and the story of cadres and people of all ethnic groups helping each other, striving together, and realizing their dreams. We must tell Xinjiang’s story vividly and movingly with heart and feeling, and explain the logic of development clearly and confidently, showcasing Xinjiang’s new look of openness and confidence. With vivid facts, we must further consolidate people’s hearts and strength, inspire cadres and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and continuously create a happy and beautiful life on the path to common prosperity. We must employ strategies and artistry in public opinion struggle, adhere to the principles of being justified, beneficial, and measured, and use indisputable facts to refute various untrue, negative, and harmful remarks in a targeted manner, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of international public opinion struggle. We must build a broader international communication platform, increase efforts to “invite in” and “go global,” organize more influential international exchange activities, and launch a richer array of high-quality international communication products. We must increase the openness of Xinjiang’s tourism, strengthen the integration of culture and tourism, promote the development of the cultural tourism industry, and encourage more domestic and international tourists to visit, see, and listen in Xinjiang, using facts to dispel doubts and misunderstandings, and using truth to overcome all malicious slander and defamation. Let the world see a real, vibrant, and beautiful Xinjiang, and fall in love with a credible, lovable, and respectable China.

讲好新时代新疆故事要更加注重可信可爱可敬。讲好中国故事,展示真实、立体、全面的中国,是树立当代中国良好形象、提高国家文化软实力的重要任务。新疆工作在党和国家工作全局中具有特殊重要的地位,讲好新疆故事是讲好中国故事的题中应有之义,也是开展文化润疆的重要使命。70年来,新疆维吾尔自治区在中国共产党领导下,实现了从封闭边陲到开放前沿、从温饱不足到全面小康的历史性跨越,经济社会发展和民生改善取得前所未有的成就,各族群众获得感、幸福感、安全感显著增强,处于历史上最好的发展时期。这一历程不仅是一部边疆治理体系与治理能力现代化的演进史,更是中国共产党领导各族人民团结奋斗、铸牢中华民族共同体意识的生动实践。我们有能力做好新疆的事情,当然也有信心讲好新疆的故事。新时代新征程,加强文化润疆、注重以文化人,要聚焦塑造认知、沟通民意、争取人心,多层次、全方位、立体式向世界讲好以习近平同志为核心的党中央亲切关怀新疆各族人民的故事,讲好各族人民亲如一家、像石榴籽一样紧紧抱在一起的故事,讲好各族干部群众守望相助、奋斗圆梦的故事,用心用情把新疆故事讲得娓娓动听,理直气壮把发展逻辑讲得清清楚楚,展现新疆开放自信的新面貌新气象,用鲜活的事实进一步凝聚人心、凝聚力量,激励新疆各族干部群众铸牢中华民族共同体意识,在实现共同富裕的道路上不断创造幸福美好生活。讲求舆论斗争的策略和艺术,坚持有理有利有节,以毋庸置疑的事实,有针对性地批驳各种不实言论、负面言论、有害言论,提升国际舆论斗争的整体效能。搭建更广阔的国际传播平台,加大“请进来”“走出去”力度,组织更有影响力的国际交流活动,推出更丰富的国际传播精品。加大新疆旅游开放力度,强化文旅融合,促进文化旅游业发展,鼓励更多国内外游客到新疆走一走、看一看、听一听,用事实打消疑惑、消弭误解,用真相战胜一切别有用心的污蔑和抹黑,让世界看见真实、生动、美丽的新疆,爱上可信、可爱、可敬的中国。

Pomegranate flowers bloom, seeds united in heart. Cultural lineage stretches on, winning the hearts of all under heaven. The 70 years of tremendous changes in Xinjiang are a vivid microcosm of the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and also a vivid microcosm of the historical process of jointly building the community of the Chinese nation. Practice has proven that the system of regional ethnic autonomy established by our Party is completely correct, and the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era is scientific and effective. It must be adhered to over the long term and implemented in light of new realities. As Xinjiang’s development stands at a new starting point, we must fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, firmly grasp the general goal of social stability and lasting peace, forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and advance the building of the community of the Chinese nation, further strengthen the work of enriching Xinjiang through culture and focus on educating people through culture, guide cadres and people of all ethnic groups to establish correct views of the nation, history, ethnicity, culture, and religion, and, with a community of the Chinese nation characterized by higher levels of identification and stronger cohesion, gather immense strength for striving to build a socialist modernized Xinjiang that is united, harmonious, prosperous, developed, culturally advanced, with people living and working in peace and contentment, and with a sound ecological environment.

石榴花开,籽籽同心。文脉绵延,天下归心。新疆70年沧桑巨变,是中华民族伟大复兴历史进程的生动缩影,也是共建中华民族共同体历史进程的生动缩影。实践证明,我们党确立的民族区域自治制度是完全正确的,新时代党的治疆方略是科学有效的,必须长期坚持,不断结合新的实际抓好贯彻落实。新疆发展站在新起点上,我们要完整准确全面贯彻新时代党的治疆方略,牢牢扭住社会稳定和长治久安工作总目标,铸牢中华民族共同体意识、推进中华民族共同体建设,进一步加强文化润疆、注重以文化人,引导各族干部群众树立正确的国家观、历史观、民族观、文化观、宗教观,以认同度更高、凝聚力更强的中华民族命运共同体,为努力建设团结和谐、繁荣富裕、文明进步、安居乐业、生态良好的社会主义现代化新疆汇聚磅礴力量。

(The author is a researcher at the Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Renmin University of China)

(作者为中国人民大学习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究院研究员)

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑:慧慧

Notes

  1. “Observe human culture to transform the world” is a classical Chinese phrase from the *Zhou Yi* (Book of Changes), meaning that by observing the patterns of human society, one can civilize and transform the world. ↩
  2. The Protectorate of the Western Regions was an imperial Chinese administrative office established in 60 BCE by the Han dynasty to oversee the Western Regions (modern Xinjiang and Central Asia), marking the first formal inclusion of the region into a Chinese imperial system. ↩
  3. The Two Integrations refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. ↩
  4. The Second Integration refers specifically to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the best of traditional Chinese culture. ↩
  5. Chinese-path modernization is the official term for China’s model of modernization, distinct from Western models, as defined by the CPC. ↩
  6. The New Era refers to the period beginning with the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, characterized by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. ↩
  7. The “five major strategic positioning” refers to the roles assigned to Xinjiang by the Party Central Committee: an Asia-Europe golden passageway and a bridgehead for opening up to the west, a strategic fulcrum for the new development pattern, a national strategic guarantee base for energy and resources, an important supply base for high-quality agricultural and livestock products, and a strategic barrier for safeguarding national geopolitical security. ↩
  8. “Achievement need not be in my tenure” (功成不必在我) is a Chinese idiom expressing a selfless attitude toward long-term work, emphasizing laying foundations for future success rather than seeking personal credit. ↩
  9. “Spirit of the nail” (钉钉子精神) is a metaphor popularized by Xi Jinping, meaning to work with persistence and precision, like driving a nail into a board. ↩
  10. The youth “foundation-building” project (青少年“筑基”工程) is a Party-led initiative in Xinjiang to instill a sense of community for the Chinese nation in young people from an early age. ↩
  11. The spirit of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (兵团精神) refers to the ethos of the military-agricultural units established in Xinjiang in 1954, emphasizing hard work, loyalty, and development in border areas. ↩
  12. The spirit of the veterans (老兵精神) honors the contributions of demobilized soldiers who settled and developed Xinjiang after 1949. ↩
  13. The spirit of the Populus euphratica (胡杨精神) symbolizes resilience and tenacity, inspired by the desert tree that thrives in harsh conditions, and is used to praise those working in Xinjiang’s challenging environments. ↩
  14. The spirit of Kekeya (柯柯牙精神) refers to the perseverance shown in the large-scale afforestation project in Aksu, Xinjiang, starting in 1986, to combat desertification. ↩
  15. “Pomegranate flowers bloom, seeds united in heart” (石榴花开,籽籽同心) is a metaphorical phrase commonly used in Chinese political discourse to symbolize the unity and close bonds among China’s 56 ethnic groups, drawing on the image of a pomegranate’s many seeds packed tightly together.
  16. “Cultural lineage stretches on, winning the hearts of all under heaven” (文脉绵延,天下归心) is a classical-style phrase: “文脉绵延” refers to the continuous transmission of cultural heritage, and “天下归心” is an allusion to the ideal of winning the allegiance of all people under heaven, often associated with Confucian political thought.
  17. “Correct views of the nation, history, ethnicity, culture, and religion” (正确的国家观、历史观、民族观、文化观、宗教观) is a standard formulation in CPC ethnic policy, referring to the five official perspectives that citizens are expected to adopt to align with the Party’s vision of national unity and ethnic harmony.