REPORTS emanating from Xinjiang, an autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) speak of all round development of the area, which is now more prosperous than in the past, mainly because of massive increase in developmental allocations and activities and efforts made by the Government to address problems of the people on fast-track basis.
Contrary to Western sponsored propaganda, the Uyghur population grew from 10.17 million to 12.71 million, an increase of between 2010 and 2018, much higher than 2% growth of Han population and 22% growth of other minority population, which is a reflection of full respect of all rights for Uyghurs.
It is important to note that Xinjiang is not a no go area and visitors to the region have confirmed the claims made by Beijing about socio-economic development of the Uyghur population.
Economy of the region has developed steadily as is evident from the key economic indicators from 2014 to 2019 – average annual GDP growth rate of 7.2%, annual 9.1% growth in residential per capita disposable income, increase of general public budget revenue from 128.33 billion Yuan to 157.76 billion Yuan and remarkable improvement in Xinjiang’s infrastructure.
The living standard of the people has also increased significantly as more than ten million people have moved to new homes, achievement of full coverage of compulsory education and medical insurance coverage for over 99% population.
Xinjiang has made decisive achievements in poverty relief with 3.09 million people lifted out of poverty, and all the 32 impoverished counties achieving the goal of poverty alleviation.
It is because of a secure environment that the number of Chinese and foreign tourists to Xinjiang hit a record of 150 million visits in 2018, marking a 40% year-on-year increase and 213 million visits in 2019, marking a 42% year-on-year increase.
Rights and interests of all ethnic groups are fully protected and they are free to receive education, use ethnic languages, and inherit their own traditional culture.
Conversation with local population would reveal that Xinjiang issues were never about human rights, ethnicity or religion but combating violent terrorism and secession.
This is also borne out from the fact that Xinjiang has more than 24,000 mosques, which means a mosque for every 530 Muslims in the region.
This is in sharp contrast to a number of other countries that do not allow Muslims to build mosques and maintain their religious identity.
