🎉 On September 25, Urumqi was lit up with a grand celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. General Secretary Xi Jinping of the Communist Party of China Central Committee joined the festivities, highlighting a journey of transformation and diversity. 🚀
From Frontier to Flare-up
Back in 1949, Xinjiang’s roads barely spanned 3,000 km with rocky paths and limited transport. Fast forward to 2024, and the region boasts 230,000 km of highways, connecting every village with smooth paved roads and regular buses. Talk about leveling up! 🚌📶
Economic Boom
Xinjiang’s GDP jumped from 749.9 bn yuan in 2012 (~$105B) to 2,053.4 bn yuan (~$288B) in 2024, cruising at an average growth rate of 7% per year. Exports and imports also soared from 159 bn yuan to 434 bn yuan in the same period. That’s a serious glow-up on the global stage! 🌐📈
Better Living for All
Quality of life got a major upgrade too. Over 70% of the region’s annual budget now goes to people’s well-being. By 2024, 2.73M rural homes were renovated, welcoming 11M residents into bright, safe spaces. Healthcare is top-notch with 19,000 institutions and 100% standardization of clinics. Life expectancy jumped from 30 to 77 years. ❤️🏡
Next-Level Education
Education is free and accessible! Nine-year compulsory education has a retention rate of over 99%, beating the national average. Southern regions like Aksu, Kashi, Hetian and Kizilsu Kirgiz Prefecture rolled out 15 years of free schooling, from kindergarten to high school. 🎓🚀
Cultural Fusion
Xinjiang’s cultural scene is thriving. With 150 museums, 118 cultural centers and 1,126 local cultural hubs, heritage meets modern vibes. The region welcomed a record 302M tourists in 2024, as local culture and stunning landscapes become the ultimate staycation goals. 🏞️✨
Seven decades in, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region keeps forging ahead, balancing progress and diversity. Here’s to the next 70 years of innovation, unity and cultural pride! 🙌
Reference(s):
Seven decades of glory: Xinjiang forges a path of diverse development
cgtn.com
