Jia Youjun and Pu Lixia: A Study of General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Expositions on Doing a Good Job in Xinjiang's Religious Work in the New Era
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has elevated Xinjiang work to the strategic height of the overall situation of the Party and the state. The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee have met on multiple occasions to study Xinjiang work. During his two inspection tours of Xinjiang, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over the Second and Third central symposiums on Xinjiang work, participated in the deliberations of the Xinjiang delegation at the fifth session of the 12th National People's Congress, and replied to letters from model figures and university faculty and students in Xinjiang. He has issued a series of important instructions and comments on Xinjiang work, putting forward a set of important ideas that formed the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era. Among these, the important discourses on religious work in Xinjiang — focused on the holistic consideration of the healthy development of religion, social stability, and economic development — constitute an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. A deep study of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on religious work in Xinjiang in the New Era possesses significant theoretical and practical importance.
I. Main Content of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Discourses on Religious Work in Xinjiang
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping, grounded in the overall national security and centered on the goal of social stability and long-term stability in Xinjiang, has focused on promoting the Sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang. He has actively guided the adaptation of religion to socialist society and mobilized people of all ethnic groups, including religious believers, to work together toward the practical requirement of realizing the Chinese Dream. He has delivered a series of important discourses on religious work in Xinjiang, which are a major component of the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, consisting primarily of the following five aspects.
(1) Adhering to and Strengthening the Party’s Leadership over Religious Work in Xinjiang
In the Party, the government, the military, society, and education, in the east, west, south, north, and center — the Party leads everything. The Communist Party of China is the core force leading our cause; Party leadership is the most defining feature and the greatest strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Since the founding of the New China, the historic changes and great achievements in Xinjiang have been inseparable from the leadership of the CPC. Party leadership is the key to all work in Xinjiang. Strengthening the Party’s leadership over religious work in Xinjiang is the core link in forming a new pattern of religious affairs governance characterized by "Party committee leadership, government management, social coordination, and religious self-discipline." It is the fundamental guarantee for the implementation of the Party and state’s decisions on religious work in Xinjiang and the primary reliance for consolidating the greatest possible consensus to perform this work well. In view of this, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to effectively strengthen the Party's leadership over religious work in Xinjiang, with his arguments mainly involving the following points.
First, based on the reality of Xinjiang as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious region, we must increase awareness of the importance of doing religious work well. During his inspection of Xinjiang, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "In the great socialist family, only with ethnic unity and religious harmony can various undertakings flourish." "The most important mass work in Xinjiang is ethnic unity and religious harmony." In Xinjiang, ethnicity and religion are inextricably linked, manifested by the large religious population and the depth of religious influence. Among the ten ethnic minorities — the Uyghur, Kazakh, Hui, Kyrgyz, Tatar, Uzbek, Tajik, Dongxiang, Salar, and Bonan [1] — Islam exerts substantial influence, and the proportion of believers is high, especially in the Southern Xinjiang region. Islam has a broad and profound influence on the ethnic identity, modes of thinking, behavioral orientations, and daily lives of religious believers. The overlapping and intertwining of ethnic and religious issues makes ethnic unity and religious harmony the focal points and difficult issues in Xinjiang work.
Second, the Party must play its role as the core of leadership in overseeing the whole situation and coordinating all parties in religious work. We must leverage the Party’s role as the leadership core in promoting the new pattern of religious affairs governance and effectively improve the capacity to govern religious affairs according to the law. The focus and the difficulty of improving governance capacity both lie at the primary level (jīcéng). To this end, at the Second Central Symposium on Xinjiang Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to effectively strengthen the building of primary-level Party organizations: "We must strive to build primary-level Party organizations into strong fighting bastions for serving the masses, maintaining stability, and opposing separatism, so that the Party's flag flies high on every primary-level position."
Third, efforts must be made to cultivate a contingent of ethnic minority cadres with solid theoretical foundations, a firm grasp of policy, and strong practical abilities. At the Third Central Symposium on Xinjiang Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must take the construction of a high-quality contingent of ethnic minority cadres who are loyal to the Party and possess both professional competence and political integrity [2] as a major task to be pursued persistently." Regarding religious work, ethnic minority cadres have advantages such as broad social connections with believers of their own ethnicity, ease of linguistic communication, and high prestige among their people; they play a unique and irreplaceable role.
(2) Adhering to the Direction of the Sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang and Actively Guiding the Adaptation of Religion to Socialist Society
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the Sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang. During the Third Central Symposium on Xinjiang Work and his inspection tour of Xinjiang in July 2022, he repeatedly emphasized the need to actively guide the adaptation of religion to socialist society: "We must adhere to the direction of the Sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang and achieve the healthy development of religion." This important thesis accurately diagnoses the religious issues in Xinjiang and strikes at their core. The main points of General Secretary Xi Jinping's relevant discourses include the following:
First, it must be clarified that Chinese culture is the root of the cultures of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Adaptation to the society in which it exists is an objective law of religious development. The evolution of religion in the Xinjiang region has also followed this law. Taking Islam as an example, Islam in Xinjiang has achieved a degree of localization — that is, it has achieved a relatively high degree of integration with the various ethnic groups, society, and culture of Xinjiang. However, in terms of Sinicization, compared with Islam in the interior (nèidì) [3], the degree of Sinicization in Xinjiang is lower. This is prominently manifested in the fact that Islam in Xinjiang lacks a sufficiently solid foundation in terms of a Chinese perspective and a Chinese standpoint. After the peaceful liberation of Xinjiang, through the religious reforms in the early years of the New China (especially in 1958) and the comprehensive implementation of the Party's religious policy after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, the Sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang made solid strides and achieved significant progress, yet the aforementioned problems have not been completely resolved.
How can this practical predicament be broken? In his key speeches at the Third Central Symposium on Xinjiang Work and during his inspection of Xinjiang in July 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping provided a systematic answer: "Chinese culture is the root of the cultures of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. We must educate and guide cadres and the masses to correctly understand Xinjiang's history, especially the history of ethnic development, firmly establish a Chinese national view of history, and forge a Chinese heart and a Chinese soul. In particular, we must deeply advance the 'Foundation-Building' project for youth to construct a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation." We must guide cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups, including religious figures and believers, to "firmly establish correct views of the state, history, ethnicity, culture, and religion. We must enhance their identification with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics." By implementing the "Cultural Nourishment of Xinjiang" (wénhuà rùn jiāng) project, we reinforce the identification of the religious circles and believers with Chinese culture. We saturate religious culture with fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture to "resolve the issue of whether to look toward the East or the West." [4]
Second, religious circles must advance with the times and provide interpretations of religious doctrines that meet the requirements of the era. Xinjiang is located on the northwestern frontier of the motherland. Historically, it was separated from the interior by mountains and passes, with long distances and inconvenient transportation. Furthermore, the governance capacity of the Central Plain dynasties and modern rulers over Xinjiang was severely insufficient, and governance performance was low, focusing mostly on military defense, political rule, and trade, while lacking continuous and deep construction of Chinese culture. At the same time, "following the completion of the Turkification and Islamization of Xinjiang at the end of the 16th century, 'Islamic-Turkic culture' developed and grew in Xinjiang, eventually becoming the dominant culture, thereby incorporating Xinjiang into the 'Islamic-Turkic cultural sphere' centered in Central and West Asia." In modern times, with the influx of "Pan-Islamism" and "Pan-Turkism" into Central Asia and Xinjiang, and imperialist powers seeking their own aggressive interests by creating ethnic rifts and hyping "national self-determination" to weaken the influence of Chinese culture, the situation of "interpreting the scriptures through Confucianism" (yǐ rú quán jīng) [5] in Xinjiang Islam was never fully realized.
Addressing this practical difficulty, General Secretary Xi Jinping conducted extensive and in-depth investigations during his inspection of Xinjiang in April 2014. After visiting religious sites and holding symposiums with religious figures, he clearly pointed out that we must educate and guide representative religious figures to interpret the scriptures correctly: "We must actively promote good concepts beneficial to socialist construction so that the people can live a happy and beautiful life." "I believe that the broad masses of religious figures in Xinjiang will certainly be able to understand the overall interests (shēn míng dà yì), stand firm in their positions, and, proceeding from their own responsibilities, make new contributions to the reform, development, and stability of the motherland and Xinjiang."
Third, strengthen the building of a contingent of representative religious figures in Xinjiang to shoulder the historical mission of religious Sinicization. At the Second Central Symposium on Xinjiang Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must attach importance to cultivating a contingent of patriotic religious clergy, and take effective measures to improve the quality of religious figures, ensuring that the leadership of religious organizations is firmly held in the hands of those who love their country and their religion." The contingent of representative religious figures in Xinjiang serves as a link and bridge between the Party/government and the religious masses. Their political stance, religious knowledge, and level of understanding and preaching of the Party and state’s major policies have a direct leading effect on the believers. Therefore, strengthening this contingent is a key link in realizing the Sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang.
(3) Governing Xinjiang According to the Law and Effectively Improving the Legalization of Religious Work in Xinjiang
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the need to persist in governing Xinjiang according to the law. He pointed out: "At present and for a period to come, to do a good job in Xinjiang work, we must hold high the banner of socialist rule of law, carry forward the spirit of the rule of law, and implement the requirements of comprehensive law-based governance in all fields of Xinjiang work." General Secretary Xi Jinping’s discourses on improving the legalization of religious work in Xinjiang primarily include the following four aspects:
First, treating the governance of Xinjiang and religious affairs according to the law as an important working principle, placing it in a priority position, and improving the capacity for law-based governance. Party organizations at all levels and Party/government cadres are the organizers and responsible subjects for the governance of religious affairs. To this end, in his speech during his second inspection of Xinjiang, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must effectively enhance the capacity to govern religious affairs." Law is an important reliance for social governance in a country or region; it is also an important hallmark of the modernization of a country’s governance system and governance capacity, and the preferred option for resolving complex social issues. Due to the overlapping effects of its unique history, reality, and geographical environment, Xinjiang is the region with the most unique and complex religious issues in the country. For some time, the US and the West have used the pretexts of ethnicity, religion, and human rights in Xinjiang to crudely interfere in China’s internal affairs, seriously threatening national ideological security and social stability/unity. Therefore, only by strengthening the governance of religious affairs according to the law and enhancing governance capacity can we effectively prevent religious issues from evolving into explosion points that affect national security, social stability, and ethnic unity; only then can we eradicate religious extremist forces, ensure the healthy development of religion, and realize the adaptation of religion to socialist society.
Second, firmly grasping the basic principles for handling religious problems. Namely: "Protecting the legal, stopping the illegal, curbing extremism, resisting infiltration, and cracking down on crime." This principle is an accurate grasp of the increasingly complex objective situation of religious affairs and their handling; it is an important manifestation of the legalization of religious affairs governance and a declaration of zero tolerance toward religious extremism. This principle constitutes a high degree of integration of political and legal wisdom, focusing on the specific analysis of religious issues — adopting different handling methods for problems of different natures, and resolving the problem for exactly what it is.
Third, protecting the religious needs of believers according to the law. At the Second Central Symposium on Xinjiang Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must protect the normal religious needs of believers according to the law, respect the customs of believers, and steadily broaden the legal channels for believers to correctly master religious common sense." Respecting and protecting the freedom of religious belief of citizens is a long-term basic national policy of our country. My country's policy of freedom of religious belief is successful, but it must also be seen that in the process of implementing this policy, including in Xinjiang, there have been brief deviations of being either too strict or too lax toward religious belief. From the beginning of this century until 2016...
Between 2009 and 2014, a special period occurred in which illegal religious activities in Xinjiang persisted despite repeated prohibitions, religious extremism ran rampant for a time, and violent terrorist crimes occurred frequently. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core responded with composure. In dealing with the religious issues in Xinjiang, they neither simply "closed everything down" nor practiced "laissez-faire" neglect. Instead, they took targeted measures and implemented policies in accordance with the law. They remained firm and resolute in striking down the destructive activities of the "Three Forces" [6] while remaining equally firm and resolute in guaranteeing the normal religious needs of the believing masses in accordance with the law, demonstrating firm political resolve and the ability to handle complex issues according to the law.
Fourth, there must be the comprehensive formation of a religious governance system characterized by Party committee leadership, government responsibility, social coordination, public participation, and the guarantee of the rule of law. This was General Secretary Xi Jinping’s requirement for Xinjiang’s social governance work during his speech at the Third Central Symposium on Work Regarding Xinjiang [7], and it is equally applicable to the governance of religious affairs in Xinjiang. At the 2021 National Conference on Religious Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the comprehensive formation of a new pattern for religious affairs governance characterized by Party committee leadership, government management, social coordination, and religious self-discipline. The content and basic requirements of these two expositions by General Secretary Xi Jinping are consistent; this system or pattern is a basic requirement for the legalization of religious affairs governance and an important guarantee for doing religious work well.
(4) Strengthening the construction of the "Three Teams" in Xinjiang religious work
The key to doing religious work well lies in people—specifically in the mutual reinforcement of the cadre team in Party and government departments, the team of representative personages from religious circles, and the team of religious studies researchers to form an effective work mechanism. For a long period after the Reform and Opening-up, the cadre team for religious affairs in Xinjiang’s Party and government departments suffered from insufficient numbers, a low overall level of competence, and instability in its ranks. In the team of representative personages from religious circles, there were pervasive issues such as low educational levels, unreasonable age structures, poor ability to interpret scriptures, and serious deviations in political stance among a minority. Taking a 2016 survey of the educational background and age of religious personages in the Kashgar region as an example: "There were 10,647 religious clergy members in the region, among whom 5,628 had only a primary school education or were illiterate, accounting for 53% (62.4% in Shufu County); only 70 people had a junior college degree or higher, accounting for a mere 0.66%. Very few religious personages had received systematic religious education; for instance, 240 had graduated from the Kashgar Prefecture Scripture School (2.25%) and 55 had graduated from the Xinjiang Islamic Institute (0.5%), totaling only 2.75%. There were 2,930 religious personages over the age of 60 in Kashgar, accounting for 27.5% of the total." By the end of 2022, these problems had been alleviated to some extent, but they are far from being fundamentally resolved. Regarding the team of religious studies researchers, problems such as insufficient emphasis, unstable policy support, inadequate numbers, and a need to improve the overall level of research remain.
At the 2021 National Conference on Religious Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping first proposed the important concept of cultivating the "Three Teams," namely the goals and tasks for the cadre team, the team of representative religious personages, and the team of religious studies researchers. In July 2022, during his inspection of Xinjiang, General Secretary Xi Jinping further clearly pointed out that the construction of the "Three Teams" for Xinjiang religious work must be effectively strengthened. The specific content includes: "We must cultivate a team of Party and government cadres who are proficient in the Marxist view of religion, familiar with religious work, and adept at doing work among the believing masses; cultivate a team of representative personages in the religious circles who are politically reliable, religiously accomplished, morally convincing, and capable of playing a role at critical moments; and cultivate a team of religious studies researchers who are ideologically and politically firm, adhere to the Marxist view of religion, possess excellent academic styles, and are adept at innovation." This important discourse clearly identifies the primary forces to rely on for doing Xinjiang religious work well in the New Era. It accurately marks the respective important responsibilities and long-term construction goals of the "Three Teams" in Xinjiang religious work, as well as the relationship between them—one that involves both a division of labor and synergistic consistency. It holds great theoretical significance and practical guiding utility.
(5) Resolutely striking against religious extremism
According to the provisions of the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism [8] of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, "religious extremist forces are socio-political forces that use religion as a cover to spread religious extremist ideas and propositions and engage in terrorist or separatist activities." This indicates that the problem of religious extremism is neither an ethnic problem nor a religious problem; rather, the opposition to religious extremism is a serious political struggle. In terms of content, religious extremism as an ideological proposition advocates "theocratic politics," "religious supremacy," "the theory of infidels," and "jihadism," which runs completely contrary to Islam's advocacy of patriotism, peace, unity, tolerance, respect for the Way, and good deeds. In terms of methods, religious extremism treats religion as a spiritual tool for recruiting the masses and expanding influence, using violent terrorist means to achieve political goals. This is a betrayal of Islam’s practice of exhorting toward good and prohibiting evil through gentle means, and upholding its rituals through the Golden Mean [9] to achieve moral education, spiritual solace, and ultimate care. The practice of the struggle against religious extremism in Xinjiang has repeatedly proven that religious extremism is the breeding ground for ethnic separatism and violent terrorist crimes, and it is a malignant tumor that seriously endangers social stability in Xinjiang.
In view of the severe situation of the struggle against religious extremism in Xinjiang for a certain period, and to ensure the overall stability of society in Xinjiang, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the necessity of firmly and resolutely striking against religious extremism in accordance with the law to ensure social stability and long-term peace and stability in Xinjiang. The General Secretary's main arguments in this regard include: First, we must clearly recognize the nature of religious extremism. "Extremist religious ideology and terrorism are our common enemies." Second, opposing ethnic separatism and maintaining the unity of the motherland is where the highest interests of the state lie, and it is also where the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang lie. Regarding violent terrorist activities, we must maintain a posture of strict crackdowns and high pressure, strike first to preempt the enemy, and "strike the head" [10]—striking early, striking small, and striking the budding signs. We must use the force of a thunderbolt and an iron fist to deliver a devastating blow, resolutely crushing the arrogance of violent terrorists. "We cannot let Xinjiang fall into turmoil or regression." Third, we must form a "heavenly net and earthly snare" [11] to strike against religious extremism. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must deeply carry out various forms of mass prevention and mass management activities, strive to fight a people’s war against terrorism, and build a wall of bronze and iron, so that violent terrorists become like 'rats crossing the street with everyone shouting to hit them' [12], educating and uniting the majority by striking the tiny minority." Fourth, we must resolutely win the battle against separatism and infiltration in the ideological sphere. We must strengthen the Party’s leadership over ideological work in Xinjiang, proactively occupy the propaganda, ideological, and internet fronts, and eradicate the channels for the spread and infiltration of religious extremism.
II. The Thinking Methods Reflected in General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Expositions on Doing Xinjiang Religious Work Well
General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on doing Xinjiang religious work well in the New Era persist in using the scientific Marxist worldview and methodology. Based on the profound changes in the world and national situations, as well as the new practical requirements of Party and state work in the New Era, he adheres to a problem-oriented approach. These expositions fully reflect working methods such as political thinking, innovative thinking, strategic thinking, dialectical thinking, and systems thinking.
(1) The method of political thinking
The method of political thinking is a way of thinking that, in the process of developing the cause of the Party and the state, considers not only economic and social benefits but also the overall political situation, political security, and political stability when governing special regions or issues. Since the founding of New China, the Communist Party of China has always adhered to a political thinking orientation in its strategies and practices for governing Xinjiang, achieving coordinated and high-quality development between Xinjiang and the interior. This is an important experience in the governance of Xinjiang.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out many times that in doing all types of work in Xinjiang, including religious work, one must "calculate the 'big accounts' more and the 'small accounts' less—specifically, calculate the political and strategic accounts more, and the economic and immediate accounts less." To do Xinjiang religious work well, maintain long-term and continuous stability in Xinjiang, and achieve long-term peace and stability, the key lies in winning over hearts and minds, including those of religious personages and the believing masses. To win over hearts and minds, one must distinguish the essential difference between religion and religious extremism, and between the believing masses and religious extremist forces. The masses of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are our brothers and sisters; religious extremist forces, ethnic separatist forces, and violent terrorist forces are the common enemies of all ethnic groups. "To unite our brothers and sisters, we must give our true feelings and sincere hearts; to strike the common enemy, we must be head-on and show no mercy." Taking the winning of hearts and minds as the "greatest politics" is the core essence of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s political thinking; it reflects the materialist conception of history in which the masses of people create history, and it is the implementation of the Party's nature and purpose in Xinjiang religious work. This also fully demonstrates General Secretary Xi Jinping’s profound grasp of complex issues and his superb political wisdom, pointing out the direction for practical work.
(2) The method of innovative thinking
The method of innovative thinking is a way of thinking that discards outdated concepts, ideas, and regulations that are no longer appropriate for the times. It involves advancing with the times, adapting to time and local conditions, forging ahead with determination, and opening up new prospects for the cause and its work. Adhering to innovative thinking is an important experience of our Party in leading the Chinese revolution, construction, and Reform and Opening-up. As an important part of the work of the Party and the state, religious work must also be developed with innovative thinking according to the requirements of the new era and in combination with new practices.
As mentioned previously, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on doing Xinjiang religious work well—whether in the overall cognitive framework or the important views and major judgments within it—all reflect his value pursuit of courageous exploration and continuous innovation. The specific manifestations of his innovative thinking method are: First, using innovation as a means to do Xinjiang religious work well. Based on the severe situation of anti-terrorism and maintaining stability [13] faced by Xinjiang since the 1990s, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has assessed the situation and established social stability and long-term peace and stability as the general goal of Xinjiang work. It has comprehensively elucidated the principle of governing Xinjiang religious affairs in accordance with the law and proposed a series of important views and major judgments, solving major theoretical and practical problems concerning Xinjiang’s stability and long-term peace and stability that had been sought to be solved for a long time but remained unresolved. This fully reflects General Secretary Xi Jinping’s political insight in discovering and solving problems and his character of innovative thinking. Second, proposing a complete set of ideas for doing Xinjiang religious work well, realizing the optimization and innovation of the work path, and continuously promoting the Sinicization and modernization of the Marxist view of religion so that it takes root in Xinjiang.
(3) The method of strategic thinking
The method of strategic thinking refers to the way of thinking that is adept at understanding, considering, and handling problems from a long-term and global perspective. It is the specific application of dialectical materialism and historical materialism in practical work. Xinjiang religious work is unique and complex; therefore, strategic thinking must be strengthened.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that in doing all work in Xinjiang, one must, from the height of the overall strategic situation, seek long-term policies, take fundamental actions, establish a trend of lasting peace, and achieve the cause of long-term stability. In September 2020, at the Third Central Symposium on Work Regarding Xinjiang, General Secretary Xi Jinping placed "persisting in examining and planning Xinjiang work from a strategic perspective" as the first of the "Eight Persists" [14] that must be achieved in Xinjiang work of the New Era. He included "persisting in the direction of the Sinicization of religion in our country" and "persisting in taking the cohesion of hearts and minds as the foundation" as important components of these "Eight Persists." This fully reflects General Secretary Xi Jinping’s strategic thinking in doing Xinjiang religious work well. That is, while attaching importance to the resolution of general and phased problems in religious work, he pays even more attention to the resolution of global and long-term major issues that concern Xinjiang religious work, such as the Sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang, the legalization of religious affairs governance, and the modernization of governance capacity. This demonstrates General Secretary Xi Jinping’s insight into the development trends of religion in Xinjiang and his foresight in doing Xinjiang religious work well.
(4) The method of dialectical thinking
The method of dialectical thinking is the way of thinking that persists in using dialectical materialism and historical materialism to understand, analyze, and solve problems. Adhering to the method of dialectical thinking means persisting in proceeding from objective reality, seeking truth from facts, adhering to the unity of the "two-point theory" [15] and the "priority theory," and persisting in viewing problems from the perspective of universal connection and development. To do Xinjiang religious work well, one must be adept at using the method of dialectical thinking.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has viewed religious issues in Xinjiang objectively, focusing on the strategic overall situation of national security, Xinjiang’s social stability, and long-term peace and stability. In April 2014...
In July [2029], during an inspection tour of Xinjiang, General Secretary Xi Jinping expressed his appreciation for the practice of Tursun Meheti, an elderly [religious] figure, who focused on preaching the Party's beneficial policies while interpreting religious texts. He pointed out: "As a form of culture, I pay close attention to reading religious works. Religion possesses much wisdom and many beneficial expositions regarding exhorting people toward goodness." Therefore, "it is necessary to guarantee the normal religious needs of religious believers and tightly unite them around the Party and the government," leveraging the positive role of religion and its followers. Meanwhile, in 2014, Xinjiang revised its Regulations on Religious Affairs. This was a major measure to bring religious work under the management of the rule of law and to advance the modernization of Xinjiang's social governance capacity and system. It was also a significant step in implementing the Central Committee's strategy of governing Xinjiang in accordance with the law, advancing the construction of a Xinjiang under the rule of law, and promoting the modernization of Xinjiang's social governance capacity and system. The above expositions demonstrate that in doing a good job in Xinjiang's religious work, General Secretary Xi Jinping is adept at proceeding from reality, seeking truth from facts, scientifically and accurately positioning the role of religion, and viewing and handling religious issues objectively and historically. He is skilled at grasping the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, resolving the difficult and long-term issues of religion in Xinjiang, and achieving the dialectical unity of the "two-point theory" and the "key-point theory," as well as the unity of history and reality [16].
(5) The Systemic Thinking Method
The systemic thinking method is a way of thinking that, based on the systemic characteristics of objective things, proceeds from the whole. It focuses on the interconnections and interactions between the whole and its parts, levels, structures, and environment to achieve the optimization of the overall system's goals. The purpose of understanding the world is to transform it; resolving practical problems in China's revolution, construction, and reform and opening up is the goal and direct aim of the CPC's century-long struggle. As a unified multi-ethnic country, the problems China needs to solve are often extremely complex. Religious issues, as part of the overall social problem, have always been major issues that the Party and the State need to handle well.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized many times that "doing a good job in Xinjiang work is a major event for the whole Party and the entire country; we must firmly establish the idea of 'the whole country as a single chessboard.'" Xinjiang's various tasks, including religious work, must be advanced from a systemic and holistic perspective. This is specifically reflected in: using the systemic thinking method to plan and deploy various religious tasks in Xinjiang, forming a systemic and effective advancement of religious work itself. At the level of the Autonomous Region's overall work and even national work, one must look beyond religion to observe and handle religious issues. Based on the macro-social system, we must persist over the long term and consolidate the foundation to systemically perform religious work in Xinjiang through governing Xinjiang in accordance with the law, stabilizing Xinjiang through unity, nourishing Xinjiang with culture, enriching the people to revitalize Xinjiang, and building Xinjiang for the long term. This thinking method fully demonstrates General Secretary Xi Jinping's unique perspective on doing Xinjiang's religious work and its guiding significance for practical work.
III. The Value Content of General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Expositions on Doing a Good Job in Xinjiang's Religious Work
General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on doing a good job in Xinjiang's religious work comprehensively and systemically clarify a series of important theoretical and practical issues in the New Era. They further deepen the understanding of religious work under new circumstances and possess significant theoretical and practical meaning.
(1) Opening a New Realm of Ideological Understanding for the CPC in Doing Xinjiang's Religious Work
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important expositions have insisted on taking the Marxist view of religion as guidance. They both inherit the successful experiences of predecessors and advance with the times, upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, thereby opening a new realm of ideological understanding for the Party and the State. This is specifically manifested in the following three aspects:
First, elevating the understanding of Xinjiang's religious work to a new level. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions combine the Marxist view of religion with the specific realities of religious work in China and Xinjiang. Rooted in the great practice of the Party and the State's successful resolution of religious issues and promotion of the healthy development of religion, these expositions profoundly summarize the beneficial experiences of Xinjiang's religious work. They draw lessons from the "Leftist" practices toward religion in the later stages of Xinjiang's socialist revolution and construction, and especially the period in the early stage of reform and opening up when religious management was too lax. In that period, "emphasis was placed only on implementing various religious policies while the government's restraint on religious affairs and the education of religious personages were neglected; attention was paid only to religious and cultural exchanges in reform and opening up while the penetration of overseas religious forces was ignored; some people even interpreted freedom of religious belief as 'religious freedom' and indulged [unregulated] activities, leading to a rebound and resurgence of religious activities and the formation of religious fanaticism." His expositions corrected the direction of religious work in Xinjiang and clarified its goals and thinking. In short, these expositions possess a deep theoretical foundation, rich cultural heritage, and profound historical and realistic concern; they represent the latest achievement of the Party and State's thought on doing Xinjiang's religious work.
Second, making new scientific judgments on major issues concerning Xinjiang's religious work. General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of major assertions: that "the greatest mass work in Xinjiang is ethnic unity and religious harmony"; that Xinjiang's religious circles must "resolve the issue of whether to look East or look West"; that we must achieve the "Sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang"; and that we must implement "nourishing Xinjiang with culture" involving the religious community. These assertions persist in a problem-oriented approach, combining destruction with construction to "clear the source" [17]. They are scientific judgments made on the basis of accurately grasping the reality of Xinjiang's religious work, laying the ideological foundation for building a broad social consensus and realizing a historical breakthrough in the ideological understanding of the region's religious work.
As stated previously, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions have a grand vision, rich connotations, deep thoughts, and a complete system. They form a comprehensive system of ideological understanding for Xinjiang's religious work and serve as the action guide for such work in the New Era.
(2) Pointing Out the Direction and Path for Doing Xinjiang's Religious Work
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has comprehensively and accurately grasped the particularity of Xinjiang's religious work. He has systemically explained the implementation paths—including goal positioning, working principles, focal points, team building, and leadership forces—as well as five methodological aspects, providing the fundamental following and scientific guidance for the work in the New Era.
Theory originates from practice and in turn guides practice. Under the guidance of these expositions, Xinjiang's religious work has advanced comprehensively since the 18th CPC National Congress, taking on an entirely new look. This is primarily reflected in: comprehensively strengthening the Party's leadership over religious work, convening the Autonomous Region's Religious Work Conference, and significantly increasing the importance attached to religious work by Party committees and governments at all levels. The system and mechanisms for religious work have been further improved. The work of Sinicizing Islam in Xinjiang has been further promoted, forming a broad social consensus, entering the field of academic research, and producing a batch of academic results. De-extremism work has been carried out in depth, effectively curbing the spread of extreme religious thought and accumulating valuable experience, contributing Chinese wisdom to the international community's resolution of religious extremism. The intensity and effectiveness of education in fine traditional Chinese culture, advanced socialist culture, and the Socialist Core Values have continued to rise. Governance of religious affairs in accordance with the law has been strengthened; the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the State Council's Regulations on Religious Affairs have been fully implemented, and the Regulations on Religious Affairs of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have been promulgated. Channels for religious believers to acquire religious knowledge have been continuously expanded; Xinjiang has translated, published, and distributed versions of the Quran and the Selections from Sahih al-Bukhari in Chinese, Uyghur, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz, and edited and distributed the New Collection of Wa’iz [Sermon] Speeches. The conditions of facilities at venues for religious activities have been continuously improved. The training system for Islamic clerical personnel has been soundly perfected. The "Five Identifications" [18] among religious personages and the broad masses of believers have been continuously strengthened, and the favorable situation of harmony and stability in the religious field has been continuously consolidated.
In January 2022, at the fifth session of the 13th People's Congress of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Erkin Tuniyaz, Chairman of the Autonomous Region Government, pointed out in the Government Work Report: "We are comprehensively promoting the legalization and normalization of counter-terrorism and stability maintenance. Xinjiang’s overall social situation is moving from 'stability following chaos' to 'governance following stability' [19]. There have been no violent terrorist cases for five consecutive years. Criminal cases, public security cases, and public safety incidents continue to decline. We have realized the desire and expectation for peace and stability held by the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang for many years. The sense of security and confidence in social stability and long-term peace and stability among all ethnic groups continues to strengthen." These achievements were precisely obtained under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on Xinjiang's religious work.
(3) Providing an Ideological Guide for Strengthening the Party and State's Leadership Over Xinjiang's Religious Work
Effectively strengthening the Party and State's leadership is an inevitable requirement and fundamental guarantee for doing a good job in Xinjiang's religious work. This work is a complex system "involving the Party committee, the government, and all sectors of society, including the United Front, Organization, and Propaganda departments of the Party committee; government departments such as Religious Affairs, Public Security, National Security, Civil Affairs, Ethnic Affairs, Education, News, Publishing, Radio and Television, Cyberspace Affairs, Finance and Taxation, Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Tourism, Cultural Relics, and Fire Services; as well as mass organizations such as trade unions, the Communist Youth League, the Women's Federation, and the Association for Science and Technology." This indicates that strengthening leadership is a major social practice characterized by comprehensiveness, globality, and coordination. This requires adhering to scientific theoretical guidance to unify thinking and form a broad consensus. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the leadership of the Party and the State has been continuously strengthened, and the practice of historical progress in Xinjiang's religious work proves that General Secretary Xi Jinping's expositions and methodology are the ideological guide for this work in the New Era.
(4) Providing the Fundamental Following for Correcting Understanding and Handling Incidents Involving Xinjiang Religious Factors
With the further expansion of China's opening to the outside world, the in-depth promotion of the Dual Circulation economic development strategy, the Great Western Development, paired assistance to Xinjiang, and the joint construction of the "Belt and Road," alongside the rapid upgrading of transportation and communication technologies, Xinjiang is transforming from a relatively closed inland region into a frontier of opening up. Exchanges between Xinjiang and the interior have become more frequent and integration is deepening. At the same time, misunderstandings and even conflicts caused by ethnic and religious factors occur from time to time, both online and offline, impacting ethnic unity, social stability, and national security to varying degrees. More seriously, in handling such incidents, some localities face problems where they "dare not manage, are unwilling to manage, or do not know how to manage." To this end, it is necessary to strengthen the publicity and education of the Party's religious policies and religious thought and establish a correct view of religion. General Secretary Xi Jinping's expositions, due to their scientific nature, integrity, and targeted approach, provide the fundamental following for the correct understanding and handling of such incidents.
(5) Forming Classic Discourse Paradigms for National Ethnic and Religious Work Emerging from the Xinjiang Context
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, while establishing the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has put forward a series of important assertions. These have become classic discourse paradigms that emerged first from the Xinjiang context and subsequently guided ethnic and religious work nationwide. Key among these are the "Five Identifications," the idea that "all ethnic groups should embrace each other tightly like pomegranate seeds," and "forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation." Although these assertions were first proposed directed at ethnic work in Xinjiang, they were also proposed in view of religious work. As is well known, in Xinjiang, ethnic and religious issues are often intertwined, interconnected, and interactive, generating a reality of ethnic identity and religious identity. If left to develop [unchecked], this easily leads to ethnic sentiment or even ethnic separatism, and religious supremacy or even religious extremism, which impacts national identity and endangers social stability and national security. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the sense of community for the Chinese nation and realize the harmonious consistency and healthy development of different levels of identity. Over time, these assertions have become tangible, perceptible, and effective theoretical expressions and practical requirements for ethnic and religious work nationwide, demonstrating powerful theoretical persuasiveness and ideological leadership.
In 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping...
At the 2021 National Conference on Religious Work, it was pointed out that: "Religious work holds a special importance within the overall context of the Party and state’s work; it impacts the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the flesh-and-blood ties [20] between the Party and the masses, social harmony and ethnic unity, as well as national security and the unification of the motherland." This is especially true for religious work in Xinjiang, where its status is even more vital and its role more prominent. As a critically important component of national religious work, performing religious work in Xinjiang well carries profound practical significance for Xinjiang itself and the entire country. Since the 18th National Congress [21] of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to Xinjiang's religious work, conducting in-depth investigative research and arduous theoretical exploration to guide it. He has made invaluable efforts that reflect the high degree of importance and gracious concern [22] the Party and the state accord to Xinjiang. His important ideas, as well as the stances, viewpoints, and methods contained therein, provide significant guidance and essential insights for successfully carrying out religious work in Xinjiang and throughout the nation.
Online Editor: Caihong Source: Science and Atheism [23], Issue 2, 2023.