Villagers harvest lavender in Sigong Village of Lucaogou Town, under the jurisdiction of Korgas County of Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang on June 17, 2015.

There is a popular folk song in China which describes the beauty of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and harmony among the people who live there. The lyrics go like this, “Everyone says that Xinjiang is a good place, where the land is fertile and the water is clear. Xinjiang locals are good at singing and dancing, and everyone has a smiling face. In Xinjiang, cattle and sheep are seen on the affluent and endless grasslands, with the scent of milk wafting in the air...”

Xinjiang is located on the northwestern border of China. For a long time, it has been the home of many ethnic groups, where various cultures and religions converge and coexist. It used to be an important node of the ancient Silk Road and a major channel for exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations. At present, it has become the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, bursting with creativity and impressive development under the national strategy of developing China’s western regions and the Belt and Road Initiative.

As of the end of last year, more than three million people in 3,666 poor villages of 35 impoverished counties in Xinjiang had been lifted out of poverty. All administrative villages within the region have access to concrete roads, electric power, and fiber optic broadband. Villagers now own cars, have safe drinking water, and have moved out of their dilapidated houses into new apartments.

While combating absolute poverty, the local government has also improved the lives of people of all ethnic groups by offering more jobs to increase their incomes. Local people’s basic needs in education, medical care, and social security have all been ensured. Today, Xinjiang people have embarked on a path of high-quality development, rule of law, unity and stability, cultural prosperity, and prosperity for all.