Source:

01-13-2006 17:00

China’s eastern seaboard is the country’s main gateway for trade. It is also China’s most economically developed region. In recent years, there has been a renewed emphasis on developing the western areas. Actually, development in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began soon after liberation. In the past three episodes of our four-part series, we have seen how the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps turned barren land into productive farmland. But further development requires a trained workforce and profitable trade. Scientific breakthroughs have capitalised on Xinjiang’s agricultural development. The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps has played a key part in promoting the region’s continuing economic development.

The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps’ activities have benefited people in the region in many ways. Infrastructure construction has stimulated the economy leading to higher living standards. In the border areas, XPCC farms have brought new services to ethnic minority groups living nearby. Doctor Li Mengtao left Shanghai over 30 years ago to serve in the corps. He is now the director of a small hospital near Beita farm treating locals and XPCC members.

Successive Chinese dynasties struggled to protect Xinjiang from incursions by its many neighbours. The policy of assigning soldiers to agriculture and construction in peacetime is not new. But no previous attempts have matched the success of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Since its formation by the PLA 50 years ago, the corps has established new farmland and industry in the region. Its tireless efforts laid the foundation for the region to seek further prosperity and security. That brings us to the end of our four-part series on the development of Xinjiang.

 

Editor:Wang Ping