CRI听力: China publishes white paper on Xinjiang

The Chinese government published a white paper on the development and progress in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on Monday.(www.hXen.com)

The paper, released by the State Council Information Office, reviewed the profound changes that have taken place in the past 60 years in that region.

It stressed that national unification; ethnic unity and social stability are the "lifeblood" to ensure the region's development and progress.

Zhangcheng has the details.

Reporter:

The 52-page document is divided into seven sections including Swift Economic Development; the Remarkable Improvement in People's Lives and the Preservation of Ethnic Cultures.

According to the paper, since 1949, particularly after China's reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, the Central Government has allocated over 390 billion Yuan, or 57 billion U.S dollars, to Xinjiang.

The investment led Xinjiang to enter an era of rapid economic growth and social progress, with local residents enjoying the most tangible benefits.

The local GDP in 2008 stood at 420 billion yuan, which is over 80 times higher than that of 1952, up eight percent on average annually.(www.hXen.com)

Dili Murati is a senior economic researcher with Xinjiang's Academy of Social Sciences.

"Reviewing Xingjian's history, we can see that before its peaceful liberation, there was no railway and no big projects under construction. Most People lived a poor life. But at present, comprehensive and convenient transportation covers the whole region making Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, the most prosperous city anywhere in middle Asia. "

The paper says huge progress was also made in areas including education, science, arts, health and medical services, employment, social security, as well as the preservation of ethnic cultures.

Abybullah Abudusha a researcher of ethnic culture with Xinjiang's Academy of Social Sciences, says this is the best period of development for Xinjiang.

"Since the founding of new China, the Chinese Government has adhered to equal ethnic policies and used laws to protect the rights of ethnic groups in areas as diverse as the economy, society and culture. Unity has been strengthened among different ethnic groups."

However, the White Paper says some disharmonious chords echo throughout this region from time to time.

In 2004, "East Turkistan" forces formed the 'World Uyghur Congress' outside China.

Since then, they have plotted and organized a number of separatist and sabotage actions.

This year's July 5th Urumqi Riot, masterminded by these separatist forces, resulted in the deaths of over 200, injured 1,700 and caused huge economic losses.

Xu Jianying is a senior researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He's also one of the drafters of the White Paper.

"We can see that separatist forces such as East Turkistan have seriously disrupted Xinjiang's development and progress by trumpeting separatism and plotting and organizing a number of bloody incidents of terror and violence. But we still believe Xinjiang will have a better future. No separatist force will succeed."

The paper concludes by saying the great development and progress "should be attributed to the concerted efforts of all peoples of Xinjiang under the banner of solidarity of all ethnic groups, as well as to the success of China's policies on ethnic minorities."

zhangcheng, CRI News.