Understanding China’s New Era in Xinjiang

I visited Aksu， Hotan and Urumqi in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between September 23-27， 2021. I chaired the delegation of foreign trade representatives in China at China Economic Cooperation Center’s invitation.

I have been in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for the first time in?2004.?We visited Urumqi， Ili and Turpan with the delegation headed by Vatan Party （Turkey） Chairman Do?u Perin?ek. I have made nearly 20 visits to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the past 17 years. The most important gain from this visit was my deepened understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and its application.

100?years of change in 10 years

I visited the city of Hotan in?2011?for the first time. We went for trade purposes together with an Azerbaijani businessman who owns dried nuts and fruits store chains in Russia and Turkey.?We had both toured the city and witnessed the miracle of how the 13th Brigade of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps acquired land from the desert and turned it into a red palm orchard.?The city of Hotan was the poorest and least developed of the Uygur Autonomous Region cities I saw at the time.?The population was?400?thousand people， but some of its roads were still dirt.?Most of the people getting a good education were not returning back to Hotan.?The poverty of the people could be seen by the quality of clothes and worn-out cars.?Our host was Ali Ekber Tursun， a medical doctor from Hotan.?Thanks to him， we had the chance to go to Uygur houses and observe the life inside.

Later， Hotan always came to the fore with terror incidents.?After?2017， I was getting news from my Uygur and Han friends who were still working in the fight against terrorism in Hotan.

In September，?2021， I went to Hotan for the second time in 10 years.?The transformation in 10 years amazed me. I was stunned by the change.?That old， run-down city was gone and a modern and clean Hotan was built， which was developed but preserved its historical authenticity.?Ten years ago， sporadic tall buildings were surrounding the city.?For two days， we explored every corner of the city with a very busy schedule.?We went to the mosque， visited the silk museum， examined the Wholesale Walnut Market.?The welfare and happiness of the people was observable to the naked eye.?Ethnic tension， which was almost traditional in the city， was replaced by harmony and understanding.?A change of that size and depth could only be made in?100?years in other countries.

New era new hotan

One of the symbols of Hotan is the statue of Grandpa Kurban.?This statue still stands tall in the “Union Square” in Hotan as a symbol of the unity in equality of the Uygurs.

The sculpture that caught my attention was rather different one -- “New Era New Hotan” in another square. It is no coincidence that this statue， which is the most accurate depiction of today’s developments in China， was built in Hotan， which benefited most from the New Era.

During our time in Hotan， the CPC’s Secretary in Hotan， Li Guo Liang， never left us alone.?When I got to know the Hotan Party secretary， I understood the importance of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping’s call for party members in every speech to set an example. When I got to know such a knowledgeable， responsible， hardworking， dedicated and humble leader， I came to realize the reason behind the great changes in Hotan.

We also have an unforgettable moment with Mr. Li.?He took our delegation to the night market. We went to a covered marketplace， large enough for two thousand people to dine together.?As guests， we were seated right in front of the stage where the show was held.?Uygur songs were sung and Uygur dances were performed， accompanied by a rich orchestra.

Small children were trying to dance in front of the stage to the music. We danced with a three or four year old Uygur girl dressed in white.?A little boy， friend of the Uygur girl， also wanted to come to my lap.?Party Secretary Li， sitting next to me， took the Uygur boy in his arms. The boy was happily sat on the lap of the Party secretary. After a short break from the music， families came and took their children.

We visited the Xinjiangguoye union of cooperatives. It provides all kinds of inputs needed for agricultural production of farmers cheaply， educate farmers to use the possibilities of science and technology to increase productivity， buy and package products， distribute them to the inner regions of China both through wholesalers and sell them through electronic commerce. This union of cooperatives is also the source of the increase in the welfare of the people of Hotan.?First， the population under absolute poverty was reset， and then， due to the policy of revitalizing the rural areas， the efforts to increase the value of the farmers in the rural areas were accelerated.

Before we went to the union of cooperatives， we had a conversation with the Uygur villagers in the Walnut Market without the administrators of Hotan.?We asked about walnut prices.?A Uygur villager boasting with the CPC crest on his chest left a deep imprint in our memory.

There was a similar situation in Aksu.?We were impressed by the diligent， knowledgeable and responsible attitude of the managers of Aksu who accompanied us. They are essential to build a city with lands acquired from desert， all green and prosperous， developed and equally distributing its wealth.

Laws are applied completely

Another feature that caught our attention during our trip to Xinjiang in September was that all the signs of public and private institutions were in Chinese and Uygur.?This includes Bank and Post Office signs too. In the past， this was not taken care of. The names of the Bank and insurance companies operating in all of China were written in Chinese and English， as in other cities.?This time， however， the law of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was applied to everyone.?Undoubtedly， this was a reflection of the rule of acting in accordance with the law and applying the laws completely in the New Era in China.?The executive branch’s obligation to fully and equally apply the law is the most important step that normalizes Xinjiang and achieves ethnic harmony.

Ethnic problems can be solved by winning people’s hearts

The reason why there have been no terrorist incidents in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the last five years is not just the tight security measures. It is determinative that the public is enlightened.?In the New Era led by Xi Jinping， the priority was given to draining the swamp， not limited to just cleaning the flies. A solid ground has been created on which separatist and sharia propaganda will not be effective.?Increasing the welfare of the people is also decisive. The administration’s centralization of the needs of the people， improvement of health and education， and ending poverty and unemployment left no space for terrorism.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has proven that it will be the leading thought to make China a modern socialist and strong country by solving the problem of terrorism in Xinjiang.

Adnan Akfirat is President of Turkish-Chinese Business Development and Friendship Association