Bu Lingquan: Strengthening the Consciousness of the Chinese Nation's Community and Building a Socialist Modern Xinjiang
In September 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping led a central government delegation to attend the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. This fully reflects the high degree of importance the Party Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping attach to work in Xinjiang, as well as their cordial concern for the cadres and masses of all ethnic groups in the region. On the new journey of building a powerful country and national rejuvenation, Xinjiang must unswervingly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions regarding Xinjiang work. It must completely, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, and coordinate development and security. It must firmly grasp the general goals of social stability and long-term stability, focusing closely on forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation and advancing the construction of a community for the Chinese nation. By anchoring itself to the "five major strategic positionings" assigned by the Central Committee, concentrating its energy, and persisting over the long term, Xinjiang will strive to build a socialist modern Xinjiang that is united, harmonious, prosperous, culturally advanced, secure, and ecologically sound.
1. Adhere to Forging a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation as the Main Line to Advance the Construction of a Community for the Chinese Nation
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has put forward the major original thesis of forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation and established it as the main line for the Party’s ethnic work and all tasks in ethnic regions in the New Era. This has enriched and developed Marxist ethnic theory, consolidated and expanded the correct path for resolving ethnic issues with Chinese characteristics, and pointed out the correct direction for the Party’s ethnic work and all regional tasks in the New Era. Forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation and advancing the construction of a community for the Chinese nation is an inescapable historical task and political responsibility for Xinjiang.
Deepen education on ethnic unity and progress. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must deeply carry out activities to create ethnic unity and progress, focusing on deepening their connotations, enriching their forms, and innovating their methods." Ethnic unity is the lifeline of the people of all ethnic groups and the cornerstone of Xinjiang’s development and progress. By carrying out education on ethnic unity and progress, we guide the masses of all ethnic groups to firmly establish correct views of the state, history, ethnicity, culture, and religion, while strengthening state consciousness, civic awareness, and the rule of law consciousness to construct a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. We must make full use of various educational resources and integrate education on ethnic unity and progress into the systems of cadre education, Party member education, and national education. Through school education, social propaganda, and cultural activities, the seeds of ethnic unity should take deep root in the hearts of the masses.
Promote extensive contact, exchange, and integration among all ethnic groups. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to promote all ethnic groups to "clasp together like pomegranate seeds" [1]. Interaction, exchange, and integration among all ethnic groups are important paths for building a community for the Chinese nation. We must actively promote the all-round "embedding" of all ethnic groups in terms of space, culture, economy, society, and psychology. By strengthening infrastructure construction, optimizing the allocation of public service resources, and advancing new-type urbanization, we create favorable conditions for these interactions. Simultaneously, we should leverage Xinjiang’s unique cultural advantages to host various cultural exchange activities, promoting mutual appreciation, learning, and integration of different ethnic cultures, thereby enhancing affection and consensus among the masses through interaction.
Inherit and promote fine traditional Chinese culture. Fine traditional Chinese culture is a precious spiritual wealth created and shared by all ethnic groups and constitutes the cultural root of the Chinese nation. We must strengthen its inheritance and promotion by protecting and utilizing rich historical and cultural heritage sites—such as the Jiaohe Ancient City and the Niya site—to demonstrate the profound depth and unique charm of Chinese culture. Simultaneously, we must actively promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, inheriting the Bingtuan spirit [2], the Populus euphratica spirit [3], and the Old Soldier spirit. This ensures that Chinese culture radiates new vitality in the New Era and enhances the sense of identity and pride among the masses of all ethnic groups.
2. Firmly Grasp the General Goals of Social Stability and Long-term Stability, and Completely, Accurately, and Comprehensively Implement the Party’s Strategy for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed Xinjiang work in an important position within the governance of the country. From a strategic and global perspective, it has systematically planned and deployed Xinjiang work, establishing social stability and long-term stability as the general goals and scientifically answering a series of directional, global, and strategic questions.
In August 2023, while hearing work reports from the Party Committee and Government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must completely, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, and firmly grasp Xinjiang’s strategic positioning in the overall national context." This strategy is rigorous in its system, tight in its logic, and profound in its connotation, forming a complete theoretical system that serves as the "guide and soul" for Xinjiang work. On the new journey of the New Era, we must accurately grasp the core essence and comprehensively implement the principles of this strategy. We must deeply understand and coordinately advance the Five Pillars of Xinjiang Governance: governing Xinjiang in accordance with the law, stabilizing Xinjiang through unity, nourishing Xinjiang through culture, enriching the people to develop Xinjiang, and constructing Xinjiang over the long term.
Advancing the governance of Xinjiang in accordance with the law. This is an inevitable requirement for achieving long-term stability. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must hold high the banner of socialist rule of law, promote the spirit of the rule of law, and implement the requirements of comprehensive law-based governance in all areas of Xinjiang work." We must be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, further strengthen legal publicity and education, and improve the legal awareness and quality of the masses, creating a social atmosphere of respecting, learning, and abiding by the law. We should continuously improve the system of Regional Ethnic Autonomy and utilize relevant laws, regulations, and differentiated regional support policies to provide a solid legal guarantee for stability and development.
Advancing the stabilization of Xinjiang through unity. Ethnic unity is the important foundation for social stability. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The most long-term issue in Xinjiang is still the issue of ethnic unity," and "we must take forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation as the main line to continuously consolidate the great unity of all ethnic groups." We must deeply study and implement Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work, give full play to the advantages of the Regional Ethnic Autonomy system, adhere to the equality of all ethnic groups, effectively protect the legitimate rights of the masses, and promote the common prosperity and development of all groups. We must resolutely oppose all forms of ethnic separatism and religious extremist ideology, strengthen the anti-separatist struggle in the ideological sphere, and safeguard national unity and social stability.
Advancing the nourishment of Xinjiang through culture. This is a long-term strategy for achieving long-term stability. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must carry out the 'Nourishing Xinjiang through Culture' [4] initiative in depth, with the goal of strengthening identity." We will continue to strengthen ideological arming, using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to solidify the soul. We must adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Culture to lead this initiative, reinforce the guidance of socialist core values, and deepen education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism. This guides the masses to establish correct views of the state, history, ethnicity, culture, and religion. We must also strengthen the excavation and research of Xinjiang's history and culture, clearly explaining the historical facts that Xinjiang has been an inseparable part of China's territory and a multi-ethnic region since ancient times.
Advancing the enrichment of the people to develop Xinjiang. This is the material basis for long-term stability. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Development is the important foundation for long-term stability in Xinjiang." We must comprehensively implement Xi Jinping’s economic thought, develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions, and promote high-quality development closely tied to people's livelihoods to achieve common prosperity. We should leverage Xinjiang’s resource advantages to vigorously develop characteristic industries and promote economic structural adjustment and upgrading. Adhering to the people-centered development philosophy, we must guarantee and improve livelihoods, doing practical things that follow the people’s will and warm their hearts.
Advancing the long-term construction of Xinjiang. This is the fundamental guarantee for stability. We must maintain strategic patience, act only after planning, and work with a spirit of seeking progress while maintaining stability, applying continuous effort and persisting over the long term to solve deep-seated contradictions. We must adhere to and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, deeply advance the New Great Project of Party Building in the New Era, train and utilize local cadres and talent from the "Pairing Assistance" [5] programs, and strengthen primary-level Party organizations to improve governance capacity.
3. Firmly Grasp Xinjiang's Strategic Positioning in the Overall National Context to Write a Xinjiang Chapter of Chinese-path Modernization
Xinjiang work occupies a special and important position in the overall work of the Party and the state, bearing on the overall situation of building a powerful country and national rejuvenation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "In building a new development pattern, promoting high-quality development, and advancing Chinese-path modernization, Xinjiang faces new opportunities and must take new actions." Xinjiang must anchor itself to the "five major strategic positionings" [6]: creating a golden gateway between Asia and Europe and a bridgehead for westward opening-up; serving as a strategic pivot for the new development pattern; acting as a national strategic security base for energy and resources; serving as an important national supply base for high-quality agricultural and livestock products; and functioning as a strategic barrier to maintain national geopolitical security.
Adhere to developing characteristic industries and cultivating competitive industrial clusters. Xinjiang possesses rich natural resources and unique geographical advantages. We must focus on energy industries such as oil, natural gas, and coal, increasing exploration and development while promoting clean and diversified utilization. Relying on agricultural characteristics, we should vigorously develop characteristic fruit industries and animal husbandry to cultivate competitive agricultural industrial clusters. We must also accelerate the transformation and upgrading of manufacturing, particularly in textiles, garments, and equipment manufacturing, to increase value-added and competitiveness.
Promote the deep integration of scientific and industrial innovation to develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions. We must increase investment in science and technology, strengthen cooperation with domestic and foreign research institutions, and build high-level innovation platforms. By cultivating emerging industries such as the digital economy, bio-economy, and new energy, we can inject new momentum into Xinjiang’s economic development. Simultaneously, we must optimize the innovation ecosystem to attract and train high-quality innovative talent.
Strengthen the integration of culture and tourism. As the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinjiang possesses rich historical heritage and unique natural landscapes. We should deepen the integration of culture and tourism to create international brands and high-quality products. We must tell the "Xinjiang story" well to enhance the region's attraction and influence, making culture and tourism a new engine for economic growth.
Strengthen ecosystem protection and restoration to promote a comprehensive green transition. Xinjiang is an important ecological barrier for China. We must firmly establish the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" [7], advancing the integrated protection and restoration of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts. We should establish a sound ecological compensation mechanism so that the masses can share the "ecological dividend," achieving a synergy between ecological and economic benefits.
Accelerate the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt Core Area to play a greater role in promoting dual circulation. Xinjiang is an important window for China's westward opening-up. We must strengthen economic cooperation with neighboring countries, improve the level of the open economy, and accelerate infrastructure connectivity. By promoting trade liberalization and investment facilitation, and cultivating new forms of foreign trade, we can deepen cooperation with brother provinces and promote high-quality economic development within the dual circulation framework.
Prioritize the protection and improvement of people’s livelihoods. We must focus on common prosperity, consolidating the achievements of poverty alleviation, and solidly advancing rural revitalization. We must increase investment in livelihoods, improving social security, education, and healthcare. Through "Pairing Assistance" policies, we must shift from "blood transfusion" (external aid) to "blood-making" (internal capacity building), narrowing urban-rural and regional gaps so that the fruits of development are transformed into a sense of gain, happiness, and security for the masses of all ethnic groups.