September 16-20, Xin Xiangyang, Party Secretary of the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Conducted a Research Trip to Kashgar, Xinjiang
Marxist Studies Network News [1] From September 16 to 20, a group of five experts including Xin Xiangyang, Party Committee Secretary and Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), traveled to the Kashgar Prefecture of Xinjiang to conduct a field investigation. The Publicity Department of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region attached great importance to this investigation. Ding Shouqing, Party Committee Secretary and President of the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences, and Li Zheng, Chairman of the Kashgar Prefecture Federation of Social Sciences, accompanied the group throughout the investigation.
On the afternoon of September 16, the investigation group visited the Organization Department of the Kashgar Municipal Party Committee to hold a symposium on the theme of "Local Party Building and the Propagation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Xinjiang." They met with relevant responsible comrades from the Kashgar municipal departments of Party-masses affairs, development and reform, agricultural economy, social security, education, health and wellness, civil affairs, and the Women’s Federation. The participating comrades from Kashgar City provided a detailed introduction to local Party building and a comprehensive overview of the public's awareness of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. They also reported on the effectiveness and achievements of Kashgar’s promotion of the national standard spoken and written language [2] and the strengthening of publicity and education regarding the "Four Histories" of Xinjiang [3].
Following the symposium, accompanied by leaders of the Kashgar Municipal Party Committee, the investigation group inspected the "Centennial Kashgar Exhibition Hall" and the "Kashgar New Era Civilization Center." They gained a detailed understanding of the Center’s role in publicizing and popularizing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. They also visited and investigated the "Kashgar City Nang [4] Industry Park."
On September 17, the group drove to Bandir Township in Taxkorgan County to conduct a symposium and investigation, engaging in in-depth exchanges with members of the Standing Committee of the Taxkorgan County Party Committee and grassroots Party building staff of Bandir Township. After the meeting, they visited the Bandir Township High-Mountain Snow Chrysanthemum Cultivation Base and inspected the township’s "New Era Civilization Center."
They then proceeded to the "Model of the Times [5] Lajin Bayika Patriotic and Army-Supporting Education Base" in Taxkorgan County to learn about the advanced deeds of Lajin Bayika. For over 70 years, three generations of Lajin Bayika’s family have protected the national border. Content with a simple life and harboring no regrets, they traveled year-round through snow-capped mountains and icy rivers where the average altitude exceeds 4,000 meters and natural conditions are extremely harsh, writing a moving story of patriotic border defense in a "forbidden zone for life." Lajin Bayika ultimately "held up life with his own life," sacrificing himself while rescuing someone from an icy lake. During the visit, the investigation group was deeply educated, inspired, and spurred to action. Secretary Xin Xiangyang pointed out that the "Lajin Spirit" must be properly summarized. He suggested the establishment of a Border Protection and Defense Museum, using the moving deeds of Lajin Bayika’s family as the core material, to be run as a high-level museum that fosters more successors for the revitalization and stabilization of Xinjiang.
On September 19, the project group went to Village No. 3 of Baren Township in Shule County for investigation. They listened to reports from village comrades regarding the rooting and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era among the masses, the promotion and study of the national standard language, and the implementation of education on traditional culture and the "Four Histories" of Xinjiang. They also investigated the kindergarten in Village No. 3, watching children perform Henan Opera [6], participate in extracurricular activities, give kuaiban [7] performances, and showcase their achievements in classical Chinese studies and calligraphy. Furthermore, they entered village households to investigate the effectiveness of the "Battle Against Poverty" [8], conversing with members of ethnic minority families about their beautiful new lives and experiencing the positive results of "Fanghuiiju" [9], rural revitalization, and "gratitude education."
During the investigation, Secretary Xin Xiangyang required that we must effectively fulfill our role as a think tank and advisory group. He emphasized the need to conscientiously process the investigation's content, summarize the results, and draft investigation reports to be submitted as internal policy briefs. We must deeply excavate successful models for the popularization and mass propagation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, contributing our wisdom to the dissemination of the Thought and to the development, stability, and governance of the frontier in Xinjiang.
(Contributor: Liu Xukuan)