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 state'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 conducted three inspection tours of Xinjiang and attended two Central Symposiums on Work Related to Xinjiang, delivering important speeches on each occasion. 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 Autonomous Region. He emphasized that "Xinjiang must fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era," and must "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 program to 'nourish Xinjiang through culture' [1], focus on educating 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 Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has accurately assessed the new orientation and changes in Xinjiang work from the overall strategic height of building a powerful country and national rejuvenation. They have continuously deepened the understanding and mastery of the laws governing Xinjiang's administration, 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 work, 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, and govern Xinjiang in accordance with the law, stabilize Xinjiang through unity, nourish Xinjiang through culture, prosper Xinjiang by enriching the people, and build Xinjiang over the long term." He has put forward a series of important assertions regarding "nourishing Xinjiang through culture," such as "carrying out 'nourishing Xinjiang through culture' 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 'nourishing Xinjiang through culture'," and "strengthen 'nourishing Xinjiang through culture' and focus on educating people through culture."
Culture is the soul of a nation, and the people's support is the greatest politics. "Nourishing 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 Xinjiang’s history and reality, with an eye toward the present and the long term; it is a vital measure for coalescing the people's hearts, consensus, and strength. "Nourishing 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 the development of various undertakings in Xinjiang under the new situation, especially the cause of cultural construction. We must understand its major innovative significance from the height of a long-term strategy and a fundamental measure to solidify the foundations [2], accurately grasping its historical logic, theoretical value, and practical essentials.
"Nourishing Xinjiang through culture" is an original and landmark concept in the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era; we must profoundly grasp the historical confidence, historical consciousness, and historical responsibility it manifests.
"Observe humanistic patterns to transform and perfect the world" [3]. General Secretary Xi Jinping has always placed cultural construction in a prominent position in frontier governance, focusing on absorbing the lessons and experiences of central governments throughout history in governing Xinjiang, and inheriting and developing our Party's valuable experience in Xinjiang administration. By taking "nourishing Xinjiang through culture" as a strategic policy for achieving social stability and long-term peace and stability in Xinjiang, he has made important expositions on a series of major questions—such as why we must nourish Xinjiang through culture, what culture can do to nourish Xinjiang, and how culture should nourish Xinjiang—making "nourishing Xinjiang through culture" an original and landmark concept of the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era.
Identification with Chinese culture has been the foundation for the prosperity and development of all ethnic cultures in Xinjiang since ancient times; "nourishing Xinjiang through culture" is the inheritance and development of the rich historical experience of our country's frontier governance. The "East or West question"—whether to look East or West—is essentially a question of cultural belonging, political identity, and the orientation of the people's hearts. Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been a region where diverse cultures meet and coexist, and it is a key site for our country's frontier governance. Since the Western Han Dynasty established the Protectorate of the Western Regions [4] in 60 BC, the central governments of our country have governed Xinjiang for over 2,000 years, accumulating rich governance concepts and historical experience. One core principle is the consistent promotion of mainstream values and fine traditional Chinese culture as an indispensable part of governing Xinjiang. From implementing the Chinese language and writing system to applying the institutional codes of the Central Plains; from disseminating Confucian classics to promoting Confucian thought; from expanding the influence of the Chinese legal system to blending the geography, history, and humanistic imagery of the Western Regions to create unique "frontier fortress poetry" [5]—successive central governments have always strengthened cultural construction, promoted cultural exchange, and enhanced cultural identity. 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 Xinjiang's various ethnic groups to converge and their spirits to rely 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 integration between Xinjiang’s ethnic cultures and Central Plains culture became. Consequently, the characteristics of "diversity within unity" [6] and inclusiveness became more obvious, and the cultures of Xinjiang's ethnic groups progressed further. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Chinese civilization has never used a single culture to replace diverse cultures, but rather has allowed diverse cultures to converge into a common culture, resolving conflicts and coalescing consensus." The successful path of the Chinese nation—integrating from vast lands and great tribes into a "diversity within unity"—the precious experience of central authorities in "educating people through culture and 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 "nourishing Xinjiang through culture" has a profound historical foundation. It is what the people desire, the trend of the times, and a historical necessity.
Upholding the Party's leadership over culture is a major matter concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state; "nourishing Xinjiang through culture" is the inheritance and innovation of the CPC’s valuable experience in leading the people to govern, stabilize, and develop Xinjiang. As the faithful representative of the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups in China, the CPC has, since its birth, always paid attention to Xinjiang's destiny and cared for its people. Early meetings, such as the Second, Third, and Sixth National Congresses of the Party, 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. One of their important tasks was to carry out cultural construction and disseminate advanced ideas. Periodicals such as Xinjiang Daily and Anti-Imperialist Front became important positions for the struggle in public opinion. Schools such as the Xinjiang Academy, hailed as the "Second Resistance University" [7], became important high grounds for ideological guidance. Holding high the banner of the Anti-Japanese National United Front, they carried out propaganda and mobilization for the resistance, paying particular attention to stimulating the patriotic passion of all ethnic groups through literature, music, drama, and other artistic forms. A number 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 "Great Rear" [8] 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 newborn people's democratic political power, establish a new type of socialist ethnic relationship, establish the socialist system, and implement the system of regional ethnic autonomy, laying a solid foundation for the governance of New China’s northwestern frontiers. In the historical process of revolution, construction, and reform, the Party Central Committee has 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 such opportunities. It has placed great emphasis on the excavation, inheritance, and protection of the fine traditional cultures of Xinjiang's ethnic groups, adhering to "creative transformation and innovative development" [9], encouraging ethnic groups to learn each other's languages and scripts, promoting interaction and integration, and respecting the freedom of religious belief. It has focused on promoting the development of cultural undertakings and industries, advancing the modernization of ethnic cultures, strengthening external cultural exchanges, and enhancing cultural confidence through the mutual learning of 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 strengthening of cultural confidence, the enhancement of cultural identity, and the maintenance of cultural security at the heart of governing, stabilizing, and developing Xinjiang. In the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, he clearly proposed the original and landmark concept of "nourishing Xinjiang through culture," transforming ideological and spiritual attraction and cohesion into the penetrative power and vitality of frontier governance. "Nourishing Xinjiang through culture" not only provides a powerful ideological weapon for leading Xinjiang work to "uphold the fundamentals and break new ground" amidst complex situations and to advance toward victory while dealing with contradictions and risks, but it has also prompted the effective protection of cultural heritage and the guarding of the historical pulse. Artistic creation has flourished with the emergence of high-quality masterpieces; cultural resources have reached the grassroots, allowing for the sharing of rich results; and the integration of culture and tourism has developed, highlighting unique charms. The cause of cultural construction in Xinjiang has achieved historical achievements and undergone historical changes, marking a milestone 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 "nourishing Xinjiang through culture" plays a foundational role in coalescing the people's hearts, consensus, and strength. The Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era is imbued with the profound insights and deep thinking of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core concerning Xinjiang's development; it is a scientific theoretical system and an open system of thought that connects history, reality, and the future. The five major aspects—governing Xinjiang in accordance with the law, stabilizing Xinjiang through unity, nourishing Xinjiang through culture, prospering Xinjiang by enriching the people, and building Xinjiang over the long term—each have their own connotations, yet they form an all-encompassing, multi-layered integrity. Among them, we must see that "nourishing Xinjiang through culture" provides moral and cultural support for governing Xinjiang by 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 a role in "coalescing the soul" [10] for building Xinjiang over the long term. Conversely, governing Xinjiang by law provides an important institutional guarantee for culture; stabilizing through unity brings together the foundation of the people's hearts; prospering by enriching the people lays the material foundation; and building Xinjiang over the long term provides the source of strength. "Nourishing Xinjiang through culture" holds a vital position in strengthening the root, laying the foundation, and benefiting the long term within the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era. As an original and landmark concept, it focuses closely on strategic issues concerning social stability and long-term peace. It upholds the standpoint of Chinese culture, inherits Chinese cultural genes, and connects the bloodline of Chinese culture. It takes as its main thread the forging of a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and the promotion of its construction. Its goal is to enhance the identification of Xinjiang's cadres and masses with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is guided by socialist core values, and its rich content includes developing advanced socialist culture, carrying forward revolutionary culture, inheriting fine traditional Chinese culture, and building a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. Its scientific method is cultural cultivation and emotional immersion—gentle like a spring breeze, "moistening things silently" [11] and exerting a subtle influence to nourish the heart. "Nourishing Xinjiang through culture" involves both innovations and breakthroughs in theoretical perspectives and deployments and requirements for practical work; it governs both the present and the long term, embodying both epistemology and methodology. In practice, this important concept guides Xinjiang to educate and lead people of all ethnic groups with a more proactive stance 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 has been further forged, and the ideological foundation for social stability and long-term peace in Xinjiang has become more solid, opening up a new frontier in the CPC's theory and practice of governing Xinjiang.
"Nourishing Xinjiang through culture" is a creative and representative achievement of Xi Jinping’s Thinking on Culture [12] taking root in the frontier ethnic regions; we must profoundly grasp the cultural concepts, values, and sentiments it contains.
"Cultures are the vehicles of the Way; cultures educate people" [13]. The CPC is a Marxist party with a high degree of cultural consciousness and cultural confidence. From the strategic height of matters concerning the Party's future, the state's long-term peace and stability, and national cohesion and centripetal force—and based on the overall situation of the development of the Party and state's undertakings—the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed cultural construction in a prominent position in state governance. It has made a series of major deployments and creatively proposed a series of new ideas, viewpoints, and assertions, forming Xi Jinping’s Thinking on Culture and raising the Party’s cultural banner for the New Era. Xi Jinping’s Thinking on Culture is a scientific system that "understands the essence and applies it to practice" [14], where theory and practice are integrated, manifesting a clear problem-oriented and practice-oriented approach. "Nourishing Xinjiang through culture" is a typical representative of Xi Jinping’s Thinking on Culture taking root in frontier ethnic regions.
"Nourishing Xinjiang through culture" manifests...
The brilliance of the "Two Combinations" [15]. Without a high degree of cultural confidence and the prosperity 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 only way." Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang persists in the organic combination of the theoretical logic of Marxism with the historical and practical logic of Chinese cultural development. Proceeding from the objective reality of contemporary Chinese cultural construction and the rich practice of borderland governance, it both inherits and innovates Marxist cultural theory—emphasizing the party's cultural leadership—and absorbs and develops a series of important value concepts from fine traditional Chinese culture, such as "cultivating people through culture" (yì wén huà rén) [16], the "combined governance of rites and law," the "priority of virtue supplemented by punishment," and "cultural exchange and civilizational symbiosis." It deepens the principled understanding of governing Xinjiang through a broad historical depth and civilizational perspective. Rooted in the magnificent 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang adheres to the Marxist "soul-vein" and the "root-vein" of fine traditional Chinese culture. It contains the historical necessity, cultural connotations, and unique advantages of the Chinese path, connecting the past, present, and future of the interactions, exchanges, and blending [17] 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. It integrates communist faith and socialist conviction with the millennial ideals of the Chinese nation. This fully demonstrates that Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture are mutually compatible and mutually reinforcing, powerfully manifesting the theoretical value of the "Second Combination" as "another liberation of the mind." It serves as a vivid interpretation of the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization—its continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peaceful nature—in the process of advancing the modernization of the borderland governance system and governance capacity.
Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang manifests the spiritual power of upholding the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. Cultural identity is the deepest form 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 and endure, and to 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 opening to the west, a site of continuous migration and settlement for thousands of years, and has always been an important hub where multiple cultures coexist and diverse cultures exchange. In the historical process of the development of the Chinese nation, the cultures of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang have, from the very beginning, borne the imprint of the "pluralistic integrity" [18] of Chinese culture. They have always been rooted in the fertile soil of China, with increasing interaction, exchange, and blending with Central Plains culture. These cultures represent an inseparable part of Chinese culture through inclusive mutual learning and deep integration, becoming the shared spiritual wealth of the Chinese nation. Amidst the turbulence of world cultures, Cultural Enrichment 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 giving full play to the role of the socialist core values in "cultivating the roots and molding the soul," "enlightening wisdom and nourishing the heart," and "cleansing the murky and promoting the clear." It emphasizes deepening education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism. It stresses the promotion and popularization of the national common spoken and written language [19], the systematic protection of cultural heritage, and the flourishing of literary and artistic creation. It seeks to excavate the ideological concepts, humanistic spirit, and moral norms inherent in fine traditional Chinese culture. By promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of the cultures of all ethnic groups, and using the unique concepts, wisdom, temperament, and charm of Chinese culture, it enhances the confidence and pride deep within the masses of all ethnic groups. This strengthens their sense of identity and belonging to the Chinese nation, better constructing a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang endows borderland governance with deeper cultural connotations and broader civilizational dimensions, coalescing a powerful Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength on both sides of the Tianshan Mountains, thereby solidifying the ideological foundation for social stability and long-term peace and stability in Xinjiang through the cultivation of people through culture.
Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang manifests the world-historical significance of creating a new form of human civilization. The ethnic question is a major proposition in borderland governance across all times and countries. In today's world, whether large or small, Eastern or Western, developed or developing, many countries are multi-ethnic and face the strategic task of properly handling ethnic issues in borderland governance. History and reality tell us that there is no "one-size-fits-all" model for solving this problem; the key is to find a correct path that fits one's own national conditions, which is also an important manifestation of national governance capacity. The Chinese nation is a great nation in the world. Over the long course of development, all ethnic groups in our country have jointly opened up the vast territory of the motherland, jointly founded a unified multi-ethnic country, jointly written the glorious history of China, jointly created the magnificent Chinese culture, and jointly nurtured the great national spirit. They have gradually formed a community with a shared future where "blood and bones are linked," "you are in me and I am in you," and which is "pluralistic yet integrated" and inseparable. Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang conforms to the general trend of the Chinese nation moving from history to the future, from tradition to modernity, and from plurality to unity. Guided by the sense of community for the Chinese nation, it leads all ethnic groups to establish correct value concepts, firms up cultural identity and ideals and beliefs, and enables the people of all ethnic groups to pool their hearts and strength, "clinging together like pomegranate seeds." Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang reveals the vitality of Chinese civilization as the world’s only continuous civilization that has developed into the present in the form of a state. It interprets the creativity of Chinese civilization as a composite civilization merging agricultural, nomadic, and maritime civilizations. It demonstrates the affinity of Chinese civilization as a constructive civilization that uses civilizational exchange to transcend estrangement, mutual learning to transcend conflict, and coexistence to transcend superiority. In the historical process of advancing the construction of the community for the Chinese nation and building a shared spiritual home, it will surely create a new form of human civilization with lasting vitality and profound influence.
Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang is a fundamental and strategic plan for advancing the construction of the community for the Chinese nation in the process of Chinese-path modernization; it is necessary to deeply grasp its emphasis on practical orientation, practical character, and practical methods.
"Small virtues flow like river currents; great virtues transform like the seasons" [20]. To comprehensively promote 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 and 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 of all work in ethnic regions." Forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation and advancing the construction of the community for the Chinese nation in the process of Chinese-path modernization is our Party’s strategic choice and inevitable choice in actively facing the changes in the world, the times, and history. Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang will further promote the firm establishment among people of all ethnic groups of the community concept of "sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace, life and death, and a common destiny," forming a powerful spiritual bond of cohesion and united struggle, and gathering the huge synergy to realize the Chinese Dream.
The advancement of Chinese-path modernization must place greater emphasis on joint construction and sharing. 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; it is necessary to promote all ethnic groups to work together for common unity and struggle, common prosperity and development, and to move toward socialist modernization together. At present, the overall social situation in Xinjiang has achieved a historic transformation from turbulence to stability, and from stability to order; all work regarding forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation is being solidly advanced. However, ideological struggles in different fields, types, and forms remain sharp. While the struggle against secessionism has achieved important phased results, the containment and suppression by some countries have intensified, and the infiltration and harassment by certain forces continue to morph and upgrade. The task of achieving long-term peace and stability in Xinjiang remains very arduous. In the New Era and on the new journey, to strengthen Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang and focus on cultivating people through culture, we must adhere to the Party's leadership over ideological work and maintain and consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field. Taking the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as the starting and ending point, we must continuously increase the conscious identity of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang with the Chinese nation and Chinese civilization. We must promote the firm establishment among people of all ethnic groups of the community concept of "sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace, life and death, and a common destiny," and better construct a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. We must firmly grasp Xinjiang's strategic positioning in the overall construction of a modern socialist country, hold fast to the general goal of social stability and long-term peace and stability, 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 a sense of community for the Chinese nation, the significance of maintaining unity and opposing secession, and the significance of improving people’s livelihoods and winning people’s hearts, making the community for the Chinese nation unbreakable. We must use a solid "ideological Great Wall" to effectively resist the infiltration and subversion of various extremist and secessionist ideas, making every effort to maintain the overall social stability of Xinjiang. We must persist in grasping the grassroots, strengthening the foundation, and consolidating the roots, and further build a "people’s line of defense" for counter-terrorism and stability maintenance within the process of Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang. We must give full play to Xinjiang's advantages in location, resources, and policy, anchoring the "Five Major Strategic Positions" [21] assigned by the Central Committee. Through the power of culture, we should contribute more to creating a "Golden Channel" 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 to maintain national geopolitical security. We must prioritize the protection 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 extensively in the development process and share the fruits of development, 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 the people 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 destiny with the destiny 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 for the development of ethnic relations in our country 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 Cultural Enrichment in Xinjiang and focus on cultivating people through culture, we must both plan for the long term and take measures to consolidate the foundation, establishing the concept that "success does not have to happen during my term" [22] and resolving to pave the way and lay the foundation for the thousand-year undertaking of the Chinese nation. At the same time, we must grasp the work practically and perform it minutely, using the "spirit of driving nails" [23] to implement all tasks of forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation, promoting commonalities, strengthening integrity, and deepening integration. We should incorporate education on the sense of community for the Chinese nation into the education of cadres, youth, and society in Xinjiang. We must continue to deeply advance the "Foundation Building" project for youth, comprehensively promote the popularization of the national common spoken and written language, and fully implement the use of national unified textbooks. We should better utilize the educational functions of the curriculum, innovate practical educational paths, and create a cultural educational environment. We should build a coordinated educational pattern integrating home, school, and society, as well as an integrated system for primary, secondary, and tertiary education, so that the consciousness that "the Chinese nation is one family, working together to build the Chinese dream" is planted in the hearts of children from a young age. We should strengthen ethnic interaction, exchange, and blending, construct an "inter-embedded" social structure and community environment, and broaden the practical paths for achieving all-around embedding. We should create social conditions where people of 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. This will promote the deepening of understanding and affection among various ethnic groups through common production, life, work, and study—making more close friends, becoming more harmonious neighbors, and forming more happy marriages. We must correct the perception of history and culture, strengthen the protection and utilization of cultural relics and heritage, strengthen research into the history of the community for the Chinese nation, and innovate various technologies for the revitalization of cultural relic resources. Using the historical facts of ethnic interaction, 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 interaction, exchange, and blending between Xinjiang and other ethnic groups in 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, carry forward the fine traditional cultures of all ethnic groups, and promote their creative transformation and innovative development. We should jointly create high-quality literary and artistic works that possess Chinese cultural heritage and integrate modern civilization, ensuring that Chinese culture is fully displayed and reaches people's hearts through physical objects, real scenes, and actual events. We must educate and guide the masses of all ethnic groups to cherish ethnic unity as they cherish their own eyes, and to value ethnic unity as they value their own lives.
The cultivation of the Core Socialist Values must place greater emphasis on entering the mind and heart. Core values are the spiritual bond upon which a nation relies for its sustenance and constitute the common ideological and moral foundation of a country. Cultivating and promoting the Core Socialist Values to effectively integrate social consciousness and maintain social stability is a vital aspect of localizing the modernization of the frontier governance system and governance capacity. On the new journey in the New Era, to strengthen the Cultural Nourishment of Xinjiang and focus on "cultivating people through culture" [24], we must continuously promote the normalization and institutionalization of education in ideals and convictions. We must deepen education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, focusing on strengthening propaganda and education regarding the "Five Histories"—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 carry forward the fine traditional Chinese culture. This includes inheriting and developing the XPCC Spirit [25], the Veteran Spirit, the Populus Euphratica Spirit [26], and the Kekeya Spirit [27], among others, to continuously enhance the sense of identity and pride. We must ensure that Core Socialist Values are implemented in a detailed, subtle, and concrete manner through a process of "moistening things silently" [28] and soothing the soul, transforming them into people’s emotional identification and behavioral habits. We should leverage the leading role of Core Socialist Values 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 civilizational education and popular science education for teenagers, guiding the masses of all ethnic groups to break with outdated customs and move toward modernization in their ideas, spiritual tastes, and lifestyles, actively integrating into modern civilized life. We must promote the Sinicization of religions in our country, strengthen ideological and political guidance for religious circles, improve their level of self-management, and enhance the rule of law in the governance of religious affairs. We support religious circles in deeply carrying out de-radicalization and consciously resisting and preventing the penetration of religious extremist ideology. We will fully implement the Party's basic policy on religious work, actively guide religions to adapt to socialist society, and allow all religions in Xinjiang to play a positive role in promoting economic and social development.
Telling the stories of Xinjiang in the New Era must prioritize being "credible, lovable, and respectable." Telling China's stories well and presenting a true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic view of China is an important task for establishing a positive contemporary image of the country and enhancing national cultural soft power. Xinjiang’s work occupies a position of special importance in the overall work of the Party and the state; telling the story of Xinjiang well is an inherent requirement of telling China's story and an important mission in carrying out the Cultural Nourishment of Xinjiang.
Over the past 70 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has achieved a historic leap from a closed frontier to a forefront of opening up, and from inadequate 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, marking the 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 Party 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, strengthening the Cultural Nourishment of Xinjiang and focusing on cultivating people through culture requires focusing on shaping perceptions, communicating with public opinion, and winning people's hearts. We must tell the world, in a multi-level, all-encompassing, and multi-dimensional manner, the stories of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core showing cordial care for the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. We must tell the stories of all ethnic groups being as close as one family, "clinging together like pomegranate seeds" [29], and the stories of cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups watching out for each other and striving to realize their dreams. We must tell Xinjiang's stories with heart and soul to make them engaging, and clearly explain the logic of development with full confidence. We should showcase the new face and atmosphere of Xinjiang’s openness and self-confidence, using vivid facts to further unite hearts and strength, inspiring cadres and 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 common prosperity. We must emphasize the strategy and art of public opinion struggle, adhering to the principle of "with reason, with advantage, and with restraint" [30]. With unquestionable facts, we should pointedly refute all kinds of false, negative, and harmful remarks, enhancing the overall effectiveness of international ideological struggle. We must 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 should 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 travel to Xinjiang to walk around, see, and listen. This will use facts to dispel doubts and eliminate misunderstandings, using truth to defeat all malicious slanders and smears, 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, hearts throughout 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 entirely correct, and the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era is scientific and effective; it must be adhered to for the long term and continuously implemented in combination with new realities. Xinjiang's development stands at a new starting point. We must fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the New Era, firmly grasp the overall goals of social stability and long-term peace and stability, forge a sense of community for the Chinese nation, and promote the construction of a community for the Chinese nation. We must further strengthen the Cultural Nourishment of 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 for the Chinese nation that possesses a higher degree of identification and stronger cohesion, we will gather majestic strength to build a socialist modern Xinjiang that is united, harmonious, prosperous, culturally advanced, secure, and ecologically sound.
(The author is a researcher at the Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Renmin University of China)
Source: People's Daily (September 30, 2025)
Online Editor: Huihui