Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has warmly inspired locals, who expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the region's transformative changes and pledged to further promote the region's development in the process of China's modernization.
Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, arrived in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, earlier Tuesday to attend activities marking the autonomous region's 70th founding anniversary.
People from various walks of life welcomed Xi ahead of the activities.
The large welcoming crowd, consisting of people from different ethnic groups, were all dressed in colorful traditional attire and staged a series of vibrant dance and singing performances showcasing the local culture to honor Xi as he arrived at Urumqi airport.
"Since the 18th CPC National Congress (in 2012), we've been feeling a growing sense of security, happiness, and fulfillment. For instance, access to services like healthcare and education has become much easier," said Ma Lingxiang, director of a local community in Xinjiang's Urumqi City, at the airport.
"What we want to say is all in the song we sang. The Party's policies are great and ethnic solidarity is great. The song represents what residents from all ethnic groups in Xinjiang want to say," said Zumrat Abliz, a resident who welcomed Xi as his vehicle marched along a road in Urumqi.
Xi listened to work reports from the regional government and CPC committee on Wednesday.
He called on Xinjiang to actively explore a path of high-quality development suited to the region on the basis of its resource endowment and industrial foundations.
"We are more confident and determined in strengthening the integration of culture and tourism and promoting the high-quality development of Xinjiang. We will implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi's important speech, leveraging our unique and advantageous resources to foster new models of cultural tourism so that our wonderful Xinjiang is better known across the world," said Peng Ziyuan, deputy secretary of the CPC Committee at Xinjiang Cultural Tourism Investment Group Company Limited.
"General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the construction of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt should be promoted at an accelerated pace. We will fully leverage the policies and the functions of the comprehensive bonded zone to better serve the enterprises and play a bigger role in promoting domestic and international circulations," said Tsairinchog, a staff member at the enterprise services bureau of the management committee of Xinjiang Alashankou Comprehensive Bonded Zone.
Xi's call for building more beautiful Xinjiang inspires locals
