Visiting diplomatic envoys talk with trainees at a vocational education and training center in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on December 29, 2018 (XINHUA)

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to work related to Xinjiang. CPC Central Committee General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited the region and hosted many meetings to study and organize work related to Xinjiang. He has also given instructions on governing Xinjiang and maintaining lasting stability in the region. 

The local authorities of Xinjiang do not ignore potential risks, condone criminal acts, or shy away from difficulties and pressures. They are treating both the symptoms and root causes of terrorism and extremism, taking comprehensive measures to fight such forces and maintain stability. 

Social stability has been ensured in Xinjiang. In the past two years, there were no terrorist attacks and the number of criminal cases, including those endangering public security, dropped. Religious extremism was effectively contained. People’s sense of safety and satisfaction significantly increased. 

In 2018, Xinjiang’s railway freight volume exceeded 100 million tons, ranking first in the country. Tourism is booming. In 2017, domestic and foreign tourists paid more than 100 million visits to Xinjiang, an increase of 32.4 percent from the same period in 2016. In the first three quarters of 2018, there were more than 132 million visits, a 40-percent increase year on year. The growth in tourism is the most direct evidence of Xinjiang’s current state and people’s confidence in the region. 

People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have lauded the hard-won social stability. Practice has proven that the strategies for governing Xinjiang and the way to maintain lasting stability are correct. 

The struggle against separatism pertains to national security, the vital interests of the people, and the overall situation of reform, development and stability. Terrorism and extremism are enemies of human civilization. Combating terrorism and eliminating extremism is a worldwide mission. Xinjiang is the frontier of China’s war on terrorism, extremism and separatism. 

The three evil forces of terrorism, extremism and separatism have never ceased their activities of secession and destruction, with some places in Xinjiang seriously affected. Ethnic separatism has a long existence in Xinjiang; hence the elimination of Pan-Islamism and Pan-Turkism cannot be achieved overnight. Religious extremist ideas are highly demagogic and can’t be eradicated in the short term. 

Trainees dance in their spare time at a vocational education and training center in Hotan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on October 7, 2018 (XINHUA) 

Some residents in these areas had a poor grasp of the standard spoken and written Chinese language. They also had poor vocational skills, which made it difficult for them to find employment. This weakness made these areas vulnerable to instigation and coercion by terrorists and extremists. 

Since October 2016, the regional authority has strengthened the effort to uphold the rule of law, crack down on violent and terrorist crimes while safeguarding human rights, and protect citizens’ basic human rights from the onslaughts of terrorism and extremism. At the same time, it has attached importance to rooting out crime from the source. 

The autonomous region gives priority to assisting and rehabilitating people who have committed minor offenses related to terrorism and extremism or who have been encouraged or coerced to take part in such activities. The root causes are being tackled through vocational education and training. An education and training model has been established, with vocational education and training centers serving as a platform to teach the common language, the law and vocational skills so that the trainees can find employment afterward. 

Residents in a village of Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County in Xinjiang have lunch on February 5, the Spring Festival (XINHUA) 

These vocational education and training centers help people influenced by terrorism, extremism and separatism. This is a creative effort by Xinjiang to fight terrorism and maintain stability. 

The training is free. Besides studying, trainees at these centers take part in extracurricular activities. People under the influence of religious extremism have been given a chance to return to normal life. 

The trainees have improved their command of the common national language, which has enhanced their understanding of the state, citizenship, the rule of law and the Chinese nation. It has also helped them to distinguish right from wrong and resist infiltration by religious extremist ideas. 

They are also significantly motivated to shed off poverty. Many have acquired practical skills from the hands-on training. When the training finishes, they earn a stable income working in garment, shoe and brick factories and other enterprises. 

Increasing income and becoming well-off have become a reality. A good system of “learning and practicing as well as increasing income” has been established. With their skills, the trainees can better adapt to society and modern life. 

With the start of the vocational education and training program, the social environment in Xinjiang has improved. People’s desire to acquire modern scientific and technological knowledge and live a civilized life has become stronger and they are consciously resisting the spread of religious extremist ideas. Exchanges among different ethnic groups have become more frequent. People are more supportive of the anti-terrorism and stability maintenance work, and are hopeful of a better life in the future. 

Tourists play on a lake in the Bayingol Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on February 6 (XINHUA)

Practice has proven that vocational education and training is in line with the reality of Xinjiang’s anti-terrorism, stability maintenance and de-extremization work. It is an effective measure to eliminate the soil that breeds terrorism and extremism. The work has established a fundamental defense against infiltration by terrorism and extremism, and is acknowledged by all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. It plays an important role in realizing the overall goal of maintaining stability in Xinjiang.