Yang Ziqiang: Enriching Xinjiang through Culture is a Major Innovation in the Party's Strategy for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era

Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been an inalienable part of Chinese territory and a vital region for the governance of the nation's frontiers. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to work related to Xinjiang and holds a deep affection for the people of all ethnic groups there. Since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has visited Xinjiang for inspections three times and has attended two Central Symposiums on Work Related to Xinjiang, delivering important speeches. Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping led a central delegation to attend the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where he heard work reports from the Party Committee and Government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. He emphasized that "Xinjiang must fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era," "forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, promote the construction of the Chinese national community, advance the Sinicization of religions in our country, strengthen the policy of enriching Xinjiang through culture, emphasize the cultivation of people through culture, and guide cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups to establish correct views of the state, history, ethnicity, culture, and religion."

Since the start of the New Era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has accurately assessed the new orientation and changes in Xinjiang work from the global and strategic heights of building a powerful nation and national rejuvenation. They have continuously deepened the understanding and mastery of the laws governing the administration of Xinjiang, clarified the general goal of social stability and long-term peace and stability, and formed the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, leading Xinjiang into the best period of development in its history. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "To do a good job in Xinjiang, we must fully and accurately implement the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, firmly grasp the general goal of Xinjiang work, govern Xinjiang in accordance with the law, stabilize Xinjiang through unity, enrich Xinjiang through culture (文化润疆) ^[1], prosper Xinjiang by enriching the people, and build Xinjiang over the long term." He proposed a series of important assertions regarding enriching Xinjiang through culture, such as: "To carry out the work of enriching Xinjiang through culture, we must first solve the question of whether to look East or look West," "We must take the enhancement of identification as the goal to deeply carry out the enrichment of Xinjiang through culture," and "Strengthen the enrichment of Xinjiang through culture and emphasize the cultivation of people through culture."

Culture is the soul of a nation, and the support of the people is the greatest politics. Enriching Xinjiang through culture is an important component of the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era. It is a major decision made based on the history and reality of Xinjiang, with a focus on both the present and the long term; it is an important measure to coalesce the hearts, consensus, and strength of the people. Enriching Xinjiang through culture profoundly reveals the inherent laws of promoting the modernization of the frontier governance system and governance capacity, providing a fundamental guideline for promoting various undertakings in Xinjiang, especially the development of cultural construction under new circumstances. We must understand its profound innovative significance from the height of long-term strategy and foundational measures, and accurately grasp its historical logic, theoretical value, and practical essence.

Enriching Xinjiang through Culture is an original and iconic conceptual hallmark of the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era; we must profoundly grasp the historical confidence, historical self-awareness, and historical responsibility it manifests.

"Observe humanistic governance to transform and complete the world" (观乎人文，化成天下) ^[2]. General Secretary Xi Jinping has always placed cultural construction in a prominent position in frontier governance, emphasizing the extraction of experiences and lessons from the governance of Xinjiang by central authorities throughout various dynasties, and inheriting and developing our Party's valuable experience in governing Xinjiang. By making the enrichment of Xinjiang through culture a strategic policy for achieving social stability and long-term peace and stability, he has produced a series of important discourses on why, how, and by what means culture enriches Xinjiang, making "enriching Xinjiang through culture" an original and iconic conceptual hallmark of the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era.

The identification with Chinese culture has been the foundation for the prosperity and development of all ethnic cultures in Xinjiang since ancient times; enriching Xinjiang through culture is the inheritance and development of our country's rich historical experience in frontier governance. The "East-West Question" of whether to "look East or look West" is, in essence, a question of cultural belonging, political identification, and the direction of the people's hearts. Xinjiang has been a region where diverse cultures have gathered and coexisted since ancient times, and it is a key stronghold of our nation's frontier governance. Since the Western Han Dynasty established the Protectorate of the Western Regions (西域都护府) in 60 BC, the governance of Xinjiang by China's successive central authorities has spanned over 2000 years, accumulating rich governance philosophies and historical experiences. One of these is the consistent use of promoting mainstream values and fine traditional Chinese culture as an indispensable and important part of governing Xinjiang. From the implementation of the Han language and writing system to the application of the institutional codes of the Central Plains; from the dissemination of Confucian classical texts to the promotion of Confucian thought and culture; from expanding the influence of the Chinese legal system to blending the geographical, historical, and humanistic imagery of the Western Regions to achieve unique "frontier fortress poetry" (边塞诗歌)—successive central authorities have always strengthened cultural construction, promoted cultural exchange, and enhanced cultural identification. This allowed the cultures of all ethnic groups to learn from and integrate with one another, drawing them into the Chinese culture with its powerful cohesion and attraction, leading the hearts of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to converge and their spirits to depend on one another. Historically, the more effective the central dynasty's governance of Xinjiang and the more stable the society, the smoother the exchange and fusion between the cultures of Xinjiang's ethnic groups and the culture of the Central Plains. The characteristics of "diversity in unity" and inclusiveness became more obvious, and the cultures of Xinjiang's ethnic groups more progressive. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Chinese civilization never replaces diverse cultures with a single culture, but rather allows diverse cultures to converge into a common culture, resolving conflicts and building consensus." The successful path of the Chinese nation integrating from a vast array of groups into a "diversity in unity" (多元一体) ^[3], the precious experience of central authorities in "cultivating people through culture and educating through virtue," and the practical form of Xinjiang's ethnic cultures taking root in the fertile soil of Chinese civilization—where "you are in me and I am in you"—fully demonstrate that enriching Xinjiang through culture has a deep historical foundation: it is the aspiration of the people, the trend of the times, and a historical necessity.

Persisting in the Party's leadership over culture is a major matter concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state; enriching Xinjiang through culture is the inheritance and innovation of the CPC’s valuable experience in leading the people to govern, stabilize, and prosper Xinjiang. As the faithful representative of the fundamental interests of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, the CPC has, since its birth, always paid attention to the destiny of Xinjiang and cared for its people. Early meetings such as the Second, Third, and Sixth National Congresses of the Party all made relevant resolutions on the Xinjiang issue. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Party Central Committee dispatched a group of outstanding Party members and cadres to work in Xinjiang, where one of the important tasks was to carry out cultural construction and disseminate advanced ideas. A group of publications such as Xinjiang Daily and the Anti-Imperialist Front became important positions for the struggle for public opinion. Schools such as the Xinjiang Academy, known as the "Second Kangda" ^[4], became important heights for ideological guidance. Holding high the banner of the anti-Japanese national united front, they carried out anti-Japanese propaganda and mobilization, placing particular emphasis on stimulating the patriotic enthusiasm of people of all ethnic groups through literary and artistic forms such as literature, music, and drama. A group of influential and excellent literary and artistic works emerged, and a group of advanced elements actively threw themselves into the revolutionary torrent. Xinjiang thus became a stable rear area for the nationwide War of Resistance. After the founding of New China, the CPC led the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to consolidate the new-born people's democratic political power, establish a new type of socialist ethnic relations, establish the socialist system, and implement the system of regional ethnic autonomy, laying a solid foundation for the governance of New China’s northwestern frontier. In the historical process of revolution, construction, and reform, the Party Central Committee attached great importance to implementing patriotism education in the Xinjiang region, strengthening basic national education, and providing universal education opportunities to groups such as farmers, herdsmen, and women who historically lacked educational opportunities. It attached great importance to the excavation, inheritance, and protection of the fine traditional cultures of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, persisting in "creative transformation and innovative development" (创造性转化、创新性发展) ^[5]; encouraging ethnic groups to learn each other's languages and writing systems; promoting interaction, exchange, and fusion (交往交流交融) ^[6] among ethnic groups; and respecting the freedom of religious belief of all ethnic groups. It attached great importance to promoting the development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries, advancing the modernization of the cultures of all ethnic groups, strengthening external cultural exchanges, and enhancing cultural confidence through the mutual learning between different cultures.

Entering the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has always treated culture as a vital element in coordinating development and security. He has placed the firming of cultural confidence, the enhancement of cultural identification, and the maintenance of cultural security in an important position for governing, stabilizing, and prospering Xinjiang. In the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, he clearly proposed the original and iconic conceptual hallmark of "enriching Xinjiang through culture," transforming ideological and spiritual attraction and cohesion into the penetrative power and vitality of frontier governance. Enriching Xinjiang through culture has not only provided a powerful ideological weapon for leading Xinjiang work to uphold the fundamentals and break new ground amidst complex situations and to advance victoriously while responding to contradictions and risks, but it has also promoted the effective protection of cultural heritage, guarding the historical lineage. Literary and artistic creation has achieved prosperous development with the emergence of high-quality masterpieces; cultural resources have reached the grassroots, allowing for the sharing of rich results; and the integrated development of the cultural and tourism industries has manifested a unique charm. The cause of cultural construction in Xinjiang has achieved historical success and undergone historical transformation, possessing landmark significance in the history of the Party’s Xinjiang work.

To fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, one must profoundly recognize that enriching Xinjiang through culture plays a foundational role in coalescing the hearts, consensus, and strength of the people. The Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era is imbued with the CPC Central Committee’s—with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core—profound insight into Xinjiang’s development and deep reflection on Xinjiang work; it is a scientific theoretical system and an open system of thought that connects the past, present, and future. The five major aspects—governing Xinjiang in accordance with the law, stabilizing Xinjiang through unity, enriching Xinjiang through culture, prospering Xinjiang by enriching the people, and building Xinjiang over the long term—each have their own connotations, but together they form a comprehensive, multi-layered whole. Among these, one must see that enriching Xinjiang through culture provides moral and cultural support for governing Xinjiang in accordance with the law, lays the ideological foundation for stabilizing Xinjiang through unity, adds economic and social development momentum for prospering Xinjiang by enriching the people, and plays the role of "consolidating the soul" (凝心铸魂) for building Xinjiang over the long term. Conversely, one must see that governing Xinjiang in accordance with the law provides an important institutional guarantee for cultural enrichment; stabilizing Xinjiang through unity gathers the foundation of the people's hearts; prospering Xinjiang by enriching the people lays an important material foundation; and building Xinjiang over the long term provides an important source of strength. Enriching Xinjiang through culture holds an important position in the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era as a means to "strengthen the fundamentals, lay the foundation, and benefit the long term."

As an original and iconic conceptual hallmark of the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, enriching Xinjiang through culture closely surrounds the strategic issues regarding social stability and long-term peace and stability. It adheres to the standpoint of Chinese culture, inherits Chinese cultural genes, and connects the bloodline of Chinese culture. It takes the forging of a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and the promotion of the construction of the Chinese national community as its main line. Its goal is to enhance the identification of cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. It takes socialist core values as its guide. Its rich connotation includes developing advanced socialist culture, promoting revolutionary culture, inheriting fine traditional Chinese culture, and building a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. Its scientific method consists of cultural cultivation and emotional immersion that is like "a gentle breeze and rain, moistening things silently and imperceptibly, nourishing the soul" (春风化雨、润物无声、潜移默化、滋养心灵) ^[7]. Enriching Xinjiang through culture contains both innovations and breakthroughs in theoretical viewpoints and deployments and requirements in work practice; it manages both the present and the long term, embodying both epistemology and methodology. In practice, this important concept guides Xinjiang to educate and guide people of all ethnic groups with a more active posture and more powerful measures to coalesce a "Chinese heart," forge a "Chinese soul," and develop and prosper Chinese culture (including the cultures of all ethnic groups). It continues to promote the systematic protection of cultural heritage, constantly stimulates the vitality of cultural innovation and creation, promotes the prosperity and development of socialist culture, and better meets the new expectations of the masses of all ethnic groups for spiritual and cultural life. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has become more deeply rooted in people’s hearts, identification with Chinese culture has been continuously enhanced, the sense of community for the Chinese nation among cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups has been further forged, and the ideological foundation for social stability and long-term peace and stability in Xinjiang has become more solid. This has opened a new realm of the CPC's theory and practice in governing Xinjiang.

Enriching Xinjiang through culture is a creative and representative result of the "taking root" of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in frontier ethnic regions; we must profoundly grasp the cultural concepts, cultural values, and cultural sentiments it contains.

"Culture is the vehicle for the Way (Dao); culture is for the cultivation of people" (文以载道，文以化人) ^[8]. The Communist Party of China is a Marxist party with a high degree of cultural self-awareness and cultural confidence. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core—from the strategic height of matters concerning the future and destiny of the Party, the long-term peace and stability of the state, and national cohesion and centripetal force—stands on the overall situation of the development of the Party and state's undertakings. It persists in placing cultural construction in a prominent position in the governance of the country, making a series of major deployments, and creatively proposing a series of new thoughts, viewpoints, and assertions, forming Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and hoisting the Party's cultural banner in the New Era. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is a scientific system where "the substance and its application are clarified and integrated" (明体达用、体用贯通), manifesting a distinct problem-oriented and practice-oriented approach. Enriching Xinjiang through culture is a typical representative of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture taking root in frontier ethnic regions.

Enriching Xinjiang through culture manifests...

The brilliant light of the "Two Combinations" ^[9]. Without a high degree of cultural self-confidence and the flourishing of culture, there can be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To open up and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the deep foundation of more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, the 'Two Combinations'—combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture—is the path we must take." Enriched Culture in Xinjiang adheres to the organic integration of the theoretical logic of Marxism with the historical and practical logics of Chinese cultural development. Proceeding from the objective reality of contemporary Chinese cultural construction and the rich practice of frontier governance, it both inherits and innovates Marxist cultural theory—emphasizing the party's leadership over culture—and absorbs and develops a series of important value concepts from fine traditional Chinese culture, such as "cultivating people through culture" ^[10], "governing through the integration of rites and law," "prioritizing virtue while supplementing it with punishment" ^[11], and ideas regarding cultural exchange and the symbiosis of civilizations. It deepens our understanding of the laws governing Xinjiang through a vast historical depth and civilizational perspective.

Enriched Culture in Xinjiang is rooted in the magnificent 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization. It adheres to the Marxist "soul-vein" (hunmai) and the "root-vein" (genmai) of fine traditional Chinese culture, embodying the historical necessity, cultural connotations, and unique advantages of the Chinese path. It connects the past, present, and future of the interactions, exchanges, and blending (jiaowang jiaoliu jiaorong) of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang—which began as early as the Jade Road, the Painted Pottery Road, the Millet Road, and the Wheat Road. By integrating Communist faith and Socialist belief with the millennial ideals of the Chinese nation, it fully reflects how Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture are mutually compatible and mutually reinforcing. It powerfully demonstrates the theoretical value of the "Second Combination" as "another liberation of the mind" ^[12], serving as a vivid interpretation of the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization—continuity, innovation, unity, inclusivity, and peacefulness—in the process of modernizing the system and capacity for frontier governance.

Enriched Culture in Xinjiang manifests the spiritual strength of upholding the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. Cultural identity is the deepest level of identity; it is the root of ethnic unity and the soul of ethnic harmony. An individual cannot abandon or betray their own family, and even more so, a nation cannot abandon or betray its own culture. For any culture to stand firm, travel far, and possess the power to lead, coalesce, shape, and radiate, it must possess its own subjectivity. Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been a gateway and intermediary for Chinese civilization's westward opening, a site of continuous migration and settlement for millennia, and a vital hub where multiple cultures coexist and diverse civilizations interact. In the historical process of the Chinese nation’s development, the cultures of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang were stamped from the beginning with the imprint of the "diversity in unity" (duoyuan yiti) ^[13] of Chinese culture. They have always been rooted in the fertile soil of China, strengthening their interactions, exchanges, and blending with the culture of the Central Plains. This process of inclusive mutual learning and deep integration has made them an inseparable part of Chinese culture and the shared spiritual wealth of the Chinese nation.

Amidst the turbulence of world cultures, Enriched Culture in Xinjiang upholds the standpoint of Chinese culture and consolidates the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. It emphasizes forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation and focuses on the role of core socialist values in "cultivating roots and centering the soul" (peigen zhuhun), enlightening wisdom and nourishing the heart, and "cleansing the murky and promoting the clear" (jizhuo yangqing) ^[14]. It emphasizes deepening education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism. It stresses the promotion and popularization of the national standard spoken and written language (Putonghua), the systematic protection of cultural heritage, and the prosperous development of literary and artistic creation. It excavates the ideological concepts, humanistic spirit, and moral norms contained within fine traditional Chinese culture. By promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of all ethnic cultures, and utilizing the unique concepts, wisdom, temperament, and charm of Chinese culture, it enhances the self-confidence and pride deep within the hearts of the masses of all ethnic groups. This strengthens their sense of identity with and belonging to the Chinese nation, better constructing a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. Enriched Culture in Xinjiang endows frontier governance with more profound cultural connotations and a broader civilizational dimension, coalescing a powerful Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength across the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, thereby solidifying the ideological foundation for social stability and long-term peace and security (changzhi jiu'an) in Xinjiang.

Enriched Culture in Xinjiang demonstrates the global significance of creating a new form of human civilization. The ethnic question is an important proposition in frontier governance throughout history and across the world. In today's world, whether large or small, Eastern or Western, developed or developing, many states are multi-ethnic and face the strategic task of handling ethnic issues within frontier governance. History and reality tell us: there is no "one-size-fits-all" model for solving this problem. The key is to find a correct path that fits the national reality, which is also an important manifestation of national governance capacity. The Chinese nation is a great nation. Over the long course of development, all ethnic groups in our country have jointly pioneered the vast territory of the motherland, jointly founded a unified multi-ethnic state, jointly written the glorious history of China, jointly created the splendid Chinese culture, and jointly nurtured the great national spirit. They have gradually formed a community with a shared future where "blood and bone are linked," where "you are in me and I am in you," and which is "diverse yet unified" and inseparable.

Enriched Culture in Xinjiang conforms to the general trend of the Chinese nation moving from history to the future, from tradition to modernity, and from diversity toward unity. Guided by the sense of community for the Chinese nation, it leads all ethnic groups to establish correct values and firm cultural identities and ideals, causing the people of all ethnic groups to unite their hearts and minds, hugging together as tightly as pomegranate seeds ^[15]. Enriched Culture in Xinjiang reveals the vitality of Chinese civilization as the world's only continuous civilization that has developed to this day in the form of a state. It illustrates the creativity of Chinese civilization as a composite civilization merging agricultural, nomadic, and maritime cultures. It showcases the affinity of Chinese civilization as a constructive civilization that uses cultural exchange to transcend estrangement, mutual learning to transcend conflict, and coexistence to transcend superiority. In the historical process of promoting the construction of the Chinese nation community and building a shared spiritual home, it will surely create a new form of human civilization with lasting vitality and far-reaching influence.

Enriched Culture in Xinjiang is a fundamental and strategic plan for promoting the construction of the Chinese nation community within the process of Chinese-path modernization. It is necessary to deeply grasp the practical orientation, practical character, and practical methods it emphasizes.

"Small virtues flow like river currents; great virtues are seen in profound transformations" (Xiao de chuan liu, da de dun hua) ^[16]. Comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization is the central task of the Communist Party of China in the New Era on the new journey. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation is the main line of the Party's ethnic work in the New Era, and also the main line for all work in ethnic regions." To forge this sense of community and promote its construction within the process of Chinese-path modernization is the Party's strategic and inevitable choice in actively facing the changes in the world, the times, and history. Enriched Culture in Xinjiang will further promote the firm establishment among all ethnic groups of the community concepts of "sharing weal and woe, sharing honor and disgrace, sharing life and death, and sharing a common fate," forming a powerful spiritual bond of cohesion and unity, and gathering a huge force to realize the Chinese Dream.

The promotion of Chinese-path modernization must place greater emphasis on joint construction and shared benefits. In achieving Chinese-path modernization, not a single ethnic group can be left behind. Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all people; we must promote all ethnic groups to strive together, prosper together, and move toward socialist modernization together. Currently, the overall social situation in Xinjiang has achieved a historical transformation "from chaos to stability, and from stability to order." Various tasks for forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation are being solidly advanced, yet the ideological struggle in different fields and forms remains acute. While the anti-secessionist struggle has achieved important periodic results, some countries have intensified their containment and suppression, and some forces have continuously transformed and upgraded their infiltration and harassment. The task of achieving long-term peace and security in Xinjiang remains very arduous.

In the New Era and on the new journey, to strengthen Enriched Culture in Xinjiang and focus on "cultivating people through culture," we must adhere to the Party's leadership over ideological work and consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere. Taking the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as our starting and ending point, we must continuously enhance the conscious identity of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang with the Chinese nation and Chinese civilization. We must firmly grasp Xinjiang's strategic positioning in the overall construction of a modern socialist country, hold fast to the overall goal of social stability and long-term peace and security, and use the forging of a sense of community for the Chinese nation as the main line. We must endow reform and development with the significance of forging this sense of community, of maintaining unity and opposing secession, and of improving livelihoods and winning people's hearts, so that the Chinese nation community becomes unbreakable. We must use a sturdy "ideological Great Wall" to effectively resist the infiltration and subversion of various extremist and secessionist ideas, making every effort to maintain the overall stability of Xinjiang's society. We must adhere to grasping the grassroots, strengthening the foundation, and consolidating the base, further fortifying the people's line of defense for counter-terrorism and stability maintenance through Enriched Culture in Xinjiang.

We should leverage Xinjiang's advantages in location, resources, and policy, anchoring the "five major strategic positionings" ^[17] bestowed by the Central Committee. Using the power of culture, we should contribute more to creating the "Golden Passage" between Asia and Europe and a bridgehead for westward opening, a strategic pivot for the new development pattern, a national strategic guarantee base for energy and resources, a national supply base for high-quality agricultural and livestock products, and a strategic barrier for maintaining national geosecurity. We must prioritize the guarantee and improvement of people's livelihoods, consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation, vigorously develop social undertakings, and ensure that the masses of all ethnic groups participate widely in the development process and share in the results, jointly building a socialist modern Xinjiang that is united, harmonious, prosperous, culturally advanced, secure, and ecologically sound.

Forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation must place greater emphasis on being "tangible, perceptible, and effective." Ethnic unity is the lifeline of all ethnic groups in our country, and the sense of community for the Chinese nation is the foundation of ethnic unity. Only when all ethnic groups closely link their own fate with the fate of the country and the Chinese nation can the cause of ethnic unity and progress have a solid foundation. Forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation is an inevitable requirement for solidifying the ideological basis of the development of ethnic relations in China and for promoting the Chinese nation to become a community with a shared future with higher identity and stronger cohesion. It is also an inevitable requirement for safeguarding the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

In the New Era and on the new journey, to strengthen Enriched Culture in Xinjiang and focus on "cultivating people through culture," we must both seek long-term strategies and take measures that consolidate the foundation, establishing the concept that "success does not have to happen during my term" ^[18]. We must be determined to pave the way and lay the foundation for the eternal cause of the Chinese nation. We must also grasp the work practically and meticulously, using the "spirit of driving nails" (dingdingzi jingshen) ^[19] to solidify various tasks for forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation—promoting commonality, enhancing unity, and deepening integration.

We must incorporate education on the sense of community for the Chinese nation into the education of Xinjiang's cadres, youth, and society. We should continue to deeply advance the "Foundation Construction" (zhuji) project for youth, comprehensively promote and popularize the national standard spoken and written language, and comprehensively implement the use of national unified textbooks. We should better utilize the educational functions of the curriculum, innovate practical paths for education, and create a cultural environment for education, building an integrated collaborative education pattern involving home, school, and society, as well as primary, secondary, and higher education. This ensures that the awareness that "the Chinese nation is one family, and we work together to build the Chinese Dream" is planted in children's hearts from a young age.

We must strengthen ethnic interactions, exchanges, and blending, constructing "inter-embedded" (huqian shi) social structures and community environments, and broadening the practical paths for achieving all-around embedding. We should create social conditions where all ethnic groups live, study, build, share, work, and enjoy themselves together. We should orderly expand the scale of ethnic minority masses from Xinjiang going to other parts of the country for education, employment, and development, promoting deeper understanding and affection among all ethnic groups through their shared production, life, work, and study—encouraging more close friendships, harmonious neighbors, and happy marriages.

We must rectify the perception of history and culture, strengthening the protection and utilization of cultural relics and heritage, and enhancing research into the history of the Chinese nation community. We should innovate various technologies for "activating" cultural relic resources. Using the historical facts of ethnic interactions, archaeological objects, and cultural remains, we should construct—from multiple angles and in an all-around way—a discourse system and effective carriers that demonstrate the commonality of Chinese culture and the historical facts of interactions, exchanges, and blending between Xinjiang and other ethnic groups across the country. We should highlight Chinese cultural symbols and images of the Chinese nation that condense shared historical memories and are branded with shared cultural genes. We must strengthen the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, carrying forward the fine traditional cultures of all ethnic groups. We must promote the creative transformation and innovative development of these cultures, jointly creating high-quality literary and artistic works that possess the heritage of Chinese culture and integrate modern civilization. Let Chinese culture be fully displayed and touch people's hearts through physical objects, real scenes, and actual events, educating and guiding the masses of all ethnic groups to cherish ethnic unity as they would their own eyes, and to value ethnic unity as they would their own lives.

Cultivating Socialist Core Values must place greater emphasis on ensuring they "enter the brain and enter the heart" ^[20]. Core values are the spiritual bond upon which a nation relies for its sustenance and the shared ideological and moral foundation of a country. Cultivating and promoting Socialist Core Values to effectively integrate social consciousness and maintain social stability is an important aspect of modernizing the frontier governance system and governance capacity. On the new journey in the New Era, strengthening the program of "Culture Nourishing Xinjiang" and emphasizing "cultivating people through culture" ^[21] requires the continuous promotion of the normalization and institutionalization of education in ideals and convictions. We must deepen education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, focusing on strengthening publicity and education regarding the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, the history of socialist development, and the history of the development of the Chinese nation. We must vigorously develop advanced socialist culture, promote revolutionary culture, and inherit fine traditional Chinese culture. We should inherit and develop the Bingtuan Spirit ^[22], the Veteran Spirit, the Populus Euphratica Spirit ^[23], and the Kekeya Spirit ^[24], continuously enhancing the sense of identity and pride. This ensures that Socialist Core Values are refined, internalized, and implemented through a process of "moistening things silently" ^[25] and soothing the soul, transforming them into the emotional identification and behavioral habits of the people. We must allow Socialist Core Values to play a leading role in the creation of spiritual civilization, deeply implementing projects such as the creation of civilization, the construction of civic morality, and the cultivation of "new people of the era." In particular, we must strengthen modern civilization education and popular science education for teenagers, guiding the masses of all ethnic groups to break away from outdated conventions and bad customs ^[26], marching toward modernization in their patterns of thought, spiritual interests, and lifestyles, and actively integrating into modern civilized life. We must advance the Sinicization of religion in our country, strengthen ideological and political guidance for religious circles, improve the level of self-management within these circles, and increase the level of rule-of-law in the governance of religious affairs. We support the religious community in deeply carrying out de-radicalization and consciously resisting and preventing the infiltration of extremist religious thoughts. We will fully implement the Party’s basic policy on religious work, actively guide religions to adapt to socialist society, and allow various religions in Xinjiang to play a positive role in promoting economic and social development.

Telling the story of Xinjiang in the New Era must focus more on being "credible, lovable, and respectable." Telling China's story well and presenting a true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic view of China is an important task for establishing a good image of contemporary China and improving the country's cultural soft power. Xinjiang's work holds a position of special importance in the overall work of the Party and the state; telling the story of Xinjiang is an inherent part of telling the story of China and a vital mission for carrying out the work of "Culture Nourishing Xinjiang."

Over the past 70 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has achieved a historic leap from a closed borderland to a frontier of opening up, and from insufficient food and clothing to a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Unprecedented achievements have been made in economic and social development and the improvement of people's livelihoods. The sense of gain, happiness, and security among the masses of all ethnic groups has been significantly enhanced, and the region is in its best period of development in history. This journey is not only an evolutionary history of the modernization of the frontier governance system and governance capacity but also a vivid practice of the CPC leading people of all ethnic groups in united struggle to forge a sense of community for the Chinese nation. We have the capability to handle Xinjiang's affairs well, and naturally, we have the confidence to tell Xinjiang's stories well. On the new journey in the New Era, to strengthen "Culture Nourishing Xinjiang" and focus on "cultivating people through culture," we must focus on shaping cognition, communicating with public opinion, and winning over hearts. We must tell the world, in a multi-level, all-round, and three-dimensional manner, the stories of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core showing cordial care for the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang; the stories of people of all ethnic groups being "close as one family" and "clinging together like pomegranate seeds" ^[27]; and the stories of cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups watching out for one another and striving to realize their dreams. We should tell Xinjiang's stories with heart and emotion so they are pleasant to hear, and clearly explain the logic of development with confidence and composure. We must showcase Xinjiang's new appearance and atmosphere of openness and self-confidence, using vivid facts to further unite hearts and strength, and inspire cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to forge a sense of community for the Chinese nation and continuously create a happy and beautiful life on the road to achieving common prosperity. We must pay attention to the strategy and art of public opinion struggle, adhering to the principle of "being with reason, to our advantage, and with restraint" ^[28]. With indisputable facts, we must target and refute various false, negative, and harmful remarks, enhancing the overall effectiveness of international public opinion struggle. We will build broader international communication platforms, increase the intensity of "inviting in" and "going out," organize more influential international exchange activities, and produce more high-quality international communication products. We will increase the openness of Xinjiang's tourism, strengthen the integration of culture and tourism, and promote the development of the cultural tourism industry. We encourage more domestic and foreign tourists to visit Xinjiang—to walk around, see for themselves, and listen. We use facts to dispel doubts and eliminate misunderstandings, and use the truth to defeat all malicious slander and smear campaigns, letting the world see a true, vivid, and beautiful Xinjiang, and fall in love with a credible, lovable, and respectable China.

When the pomegranate flowers bloom, the seeds are of one heart. When the cultural lineage continues, the hearts of the world return. The 70 years of profound changes in Xinjiang are a vivid microcosm of the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the historical process of building a community for the Chinese nation. Practice has proven that the system of regional ethnic autonomy established by our Party is completely correct, and the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era is scientific and effective. It must be adhered to over the long term and implemented continuously in combination with new realities. Xinjiang's development stands at a new starting point. We must completely, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, firmly grasp the general goal of social stability and long-term peace and security, forge a sense of community for the Chinese nation, and promote the construction of the Chinese nation as a community. We must further strengthen "Culture Nourishing Xinjiang," focus on "cultivating people through culture," and guide cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups to establish correct views of the state, history, ethnicity, culture, and religion. With a community of destiny for the Chinese nation characterized by a higher degree of identification and stronger cohesion, we shall gather majestic power to strive toward building a socialist modern Xinjiang that is united, harmonious, prosperous, culturally advanced, secure, and ecologically sound.

(The author is a researcher at the Xi Jinping Institute of Chinese-style Socialism in the New Era, Renmin University of China) Source: People's Daily (September 30, 2025) Web Editor: Huihui