China marks 70th founding anniversary of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps

A meeting was held in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Monday to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the State Council, and Central Military Commission (CMC) sent a congratulatory letter to the Corps on its milestone.

The letter highlighted historic contributions made by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps over the past seven decades, especially its progress in promoting development in Xinjiang, enhancing ethnic unity, maintaining social stability, and strengthening national border defense.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Corps has deepened exchanges and interactions with local communities and ethnic groups to work together for common prosperity. It has made comprehensive progress and historic achievements in various undertakings, playing an irreplaceable strategic role in achieving social stability and long-term peace in Xinjiang, the letter noted.

Standing at a new historical starting point, it is hoped that the Corps, while focusing on the overall objectives of work in Xinjiang, will prioritize forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, continuously enhance their stability and border defense capabilities, closely address people's livelihoods to promote high-quality development, and further deepen reforms comprehensively while advancing the integrated development between the Corps and local communities.

The Corps is also expected to make new and greater contributions to advance the construction of a strong nation and the great rejuvenation of the nation through Chinese modernization, the letter added.

Entrusted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and extended warm congratulations to the Corps over its 70th founding anniversary on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the CMC.

He pointed out that in the new era, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps should continue to serve social stability and national security in Xinjiang, promote high-quality development, and create a golden passage between Asia and Europe and a gateway of the country's westward opening up.

He also encouraged the Corps to strengthen itself and play a greater role in building a beautiful Xinjiang and achieving the overall objectives of Xinjiang's work.

China marks 70th founding anniversary of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps

Farmers in India, a major agricultural producer and fertilizer importer, are raising concerns over fertilizer availability ahead of the planting season, as the escalating Middle East conflict and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz put global supplies at risk.

The Middle East serves as both a vital energy hub and a major global fertilizer supplier, yet the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has heightened risks of disruption to international supplies.

Chand Singh Yadav, a farmer in Haryana, a northern Indian state, said poor crop yields would be disastrous for the country and called on the government to ensure adequate supplies of fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent a food crisis. "Without fertilizers, our crops will not grow well, and this would be disastrous for the entire country. If farmers cannot grow crops, people will not be able to buy food in the market. We urge the government to improve the supply system for fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent the country and society as a whole from sliding into a food crisis," he said.

The Indian government is stepping up subsidies for farmers and optimizing fertilizer distribution and allocation to stabilize the supply. Prices have remained broadly stable, but demand is expected to surge ahead of the planting season, potentially exacerbating supply pressures.

"The current situation is worrying for us farmers. Spring sowing has not yet started, and the rainy season has not arrived. Fertilizer prices are temporarily stable, but in two months, demand for agricultural fertilizers will become pressing. Without fertilizers, it will be difficult to properly cultivate various types of crops. Urea and diammonium phosphate are especially critical. Crops can only grow normally when these fertilizers are applied. As these fertilizers are largely imported, if the conflict persists, supplies cannot be guaranteed," said Santosh Mishra, a farmer in India's eastern state of Odisha.

Escalating Middle East conflict strains India’s fertilizer supply

Escalating Middle East conflict strains India’s fertilizer supply