As Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region celebrates its 70th anniversary, the release of a white paper offers a comprehensive insight into the region's governance. The official document, titled CPC Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements, sets out the Communist Party of China's (CPC's) vision for how regional affairs should be handled. It was released on September 19 by the State Council Information Office, the Central Government's information agency, six days before a grand celebratory gathering in the regional capital city of Urumqi attended by President Xi Jinping.

The 18th CPC National Congress in November 2012 ushered Chinese socialism into a new era. Xi was elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee at the First Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee held shortly after the congress concluded. Xi became president in 2013 at the First Session of the 12th National People's Congress, China's top legislature. He has since visited Xinjiang four times—in 2014, 2022, 2023 and 2025. During these visits, Xi outlined the CPC's vision for governing the region.

At the heart of this vision is a five-pronged strategy that calls for governing the region in accordance with the law, maintaining stability through ethnic unity, strengthening cultural identity and bonds, bringing greater prosperity to Xinjiang and its people and developing Xinjiang from a long-term perspective. This strategy has fueled Xinjiang's transformation in recent years.

Law-based governance has helped ensure social stability. Terrorism, which used to haunt the region, is now a thing of the past. Residents' lawful rights and interests are better protected. The business environment has also been optimized. There has been an upsurge of tourist trips in and to Xinjiang, rising from 48.6 million in 2012 to 302 million in 2024.

Ethnic unity has also strengthened, heightening the sense of the Chinese nation as one community. While respecting local people's right to use the language of their own ethnic group, standard spoken and written Chinese is promoted across the region and used and taught at schools. The public has developed a stronger awareness and capability to use standard Chinese, a common tongue for all in China. Study trips have been organized for elementary and secondary school students to visit other provinces and cities.

Efforts to cement cultural bonds have helped diverse ethnicities better identify with Chinese culture shared throughout the entire nation. Xinjiang has leveraged historical records, archaeological findings and cultural heritage to foster a deeper appreciation for unity in diversity. The regional authorities have also promoted equal access to cultural services and channeled quality resources to the community level by running facilities such as public libraries and cultural centers.

The regional government's commitment to bringing greater prosperity to Xinjiang and its 26 million residents has borne fruit. Since 2012, the region's GDP has grown at an average annual rate of 7 percent, exceeding the 2-trillion-yuan ($280 billion) benchmark in 2024. Every village has access to broadband Internet services, greatly facilitating work and life. In 2024, the total employed population reached 13.91 million, an increase of 11.64 percent over 2012.

The authorities are committed to the long-term development of Xinjiang. Priority has been given to strengthening primary-level governance. Since 2014, government officials have been dispatched to work in villages, and have lived and worked side by side with villagers to support them in exploring ways to increase incomes and improve overall living standards.

For the international community, the white paper serves as an invitation to discard prejudice and engage with the truth: Xinjiang's success story is one of stability, unity and shared prosperity. This is a model that demonstrably prioritizes people's wellbeing and national harmony. In a world grappling with fragmentation, Xinjiang's experience offers a beacon of hope for inclusive development and effective governance.