Xi Jinping Visits Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region... "Accelerating Sinicization"

"Islamization and Language Integration in China Accelerate... Strengthening Positive Propaganda"

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of maintaining social stability in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where many Muslims reside, and ordered greater efforts toward the Sinicization of Islam and the integration of language and script to accelerate the "integration of the Chinese nation."

According to the state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 26th, after attending the BRICS summit held in South Africa, President Xi returned to China and visited the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, stating, "The Party Central Committee's requirements for various tasks in Xinjiang are very clear."

President Xi said, "While properly addressing the problems faced by current development and stability, we must also have a long-term plan," adding, "We need to promote fundamental, basic, and long-term work related to long-term stability and actively resolve various deep-seated contradictions and problems."

He stated, "We must consistently prioritize maintaining social stability to secure development through stability and promote stability through development," and emphasized, "Efforts should be made to prevent and resolve hidden mechanisms of major risks, and the rule of law and normalization of anti-terrorism, anti-separatism struggles, and stability maintenance work must be combined."

He continued, "We must deepen the promotion of the Sinicization of Islam and effectively manage various illegal religious activities," and said, "We must strengthen our sense of crisis, think about crises even in peaceful times, and consolidate the hard-won phase of social stability."

Chinese President Xi Jinping is delivering a speech at the 15th BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the 23rd (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

President Xi also stressed the need to instill a "sense of community of the Chinese nation" in the Xinjiang region to strengthen the centripetal force for integration.

He said, "Whether it is laws, regulations, or policy measures, the primary consideration should be that they help strengthen the commonality of the Chinese nation and enhance the sense of community of the Chinese nation," and raised his voice, "We must firmly promote education in the national common language and script and gradually raise the public's awareness and ability to use the national common language and script."

President Xi said, "We should strengthen positive propaganda, showcase Xinjiang's open and confident new image and spirit, and tell the story of Xinjiang in the new era through various channels and formats," adding, "We must criticize and refute all baseless and negative public opinions and harmful voices, expand travel openness in Xinjiang, and encourage domestic and international tourists to visit Xinjiang."

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, along with the Tibet Autonomous Region in the southwest, is a region where Chinese authorities have focused on integration efforts. Especially after the Islamic militant group's bombing attack at Urumqi Railway Station during President Xi's visit to Xinjiang in 2014, China has strengthened social control in Xinjiang with the goal of eradicating separatist and extremist movements, focusing on managing Islam.

Western countries, including the United States, have pressured China, alleging forced labor of Muslims in Xinjiang. Some countries have already placed regional officials on sanction lists, and the United States, with the "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" enacted in June last year, has restricted imports of products originating from Xinjiang, drawing China's backlash.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.