On 25 September, a ceremony was held in Urumqi to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, attended by President Xi Jinping and other senior officials of the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China. The event took place in a large hall attended by thousands of people and began with the singing of the national anthem.

Wang Huning, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, addressed the gathering. In his speech, he recalled the 70 years of development of the region and highlighted the economic and social transformation of Xinjiang. He said the region has made "significant achievements in modernisation" over the past decade and has strengthened connectivity with other parts of China.

Another speaker, Li Ganjie, read out a letter of congratulations from China's top institutions. He stressed the need to continue the development of the region and to strengthen the unity of the different ethnic groups.

While the Chinese government presents Xinjiang as an example of development and stability, international observers have long pointed to the need for open dialogue on human rights and cultural autonomy for local communities. The anniversary ceremony thus recalled not only the achievements of the region but also the complexity of its social and political development.

CMG