URUMQI -- Forging ahead for 70 years, new splendor unfolds across the Tianshan Mountains. President Xi Jinping on Thursday morning attended a grand gathering in celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region at the Xinjiang People's Hall in Urumqi, capital of this region. Xi is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the central delegation, attended this event and delivered a speech. Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, was also present at the gathering. Both Wang and Cai are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

The Xinjiang People's Hall was ablaze with lights and the atmosphere was solemn and jubilant. Above the rostrum hung a banner reading "Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region." In the center of the backdrop was the shining national emblem of China, with 10 red flags flanking it on both sides. A streamer hung at the back of the hall read: "Let us rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and strive unremittingly to build a socialist modern Xinjiang that is characterized by unity, harmony, prosperity, affluence, cultural progress and a sound eco-environment, where people live and work in peace and contentment!"

At around 10:30 am, to the sound of cheerful music, Xi and other leaders stepped onto the rostrum, greeted by prolonged and enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Erkin Tuniyaz, deputy secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee and chairman of the regional people's government, declared the opening of the ceremony. All attendees rose to their feet and sang the national anthem.

Li Ganjie, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, and deputy head of the central delegation, read a congratulatory message on the 70th anniversary of the founding of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The message was from the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the CPPCC, and the Central Military Commission.

Wang Huning delivered a speech. Wang said that with the care of the CPC Central Committee and the support of the Party's policies concerning ethnic groups, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region was founded 70 years ago. Over the past seven decades and especially in the new era, under the leadership of the CPC, the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang with ensured status as masters of the country have achieved one success after another in socialist revolution and development, and in reform and opening up. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core reviewed the developments and made overall plans from a strategic perspective and formulated the Party's guidelines for governing Xinjiang in the new era, which has driven historic achievements across various undertakings in the region, Wang said. Xinjiang, together with the rest of the country, won the battle against poverty and completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, said Wang, noting that ethnic unity in Xinjiang has been further consolidated, and the sense of community for the Chinese nation has been strengthened. People of all ethnic groups in the autonomous region, closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate that stick together, are striding forward on the path to Chinese modernization.

Wang noted that the splendid achievements made by Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region over the past 70 years speak volumes for the remarkable advantages of the Party's leadership and socialism, fully demonstrate the strong vigor of the correct and distinctively Chinese approach to handling ethnic affairs, and fully prove the correctness of the Party's guidelines for governing Xinjiang in the new era.

Wang said that with Xinjiang's modernization drive at a new starting point, it is imperative to follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress as well as the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, profoundly understand the decisive significance of the "Two Affirmations," strengthen awareness of the "Four Consciousnesses" and the "Four Confidences," resolutely act on the "Two Upholds," fully and faithfully implement the Party's guidelines for governing Xinjiang in the new era, uphold and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy, focus on the general goal of the work related to Xinjiang, and firmly grasp the goal of forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. It is also imperative to uphold the principles of governing Xinjiang in accordance with the law, maintaining stability through ethnic unity, nourishing the region through cultural development, bringing greater prosperity to the region and its people, and developing Xinjiang from a long-term perspective, as well as to strive unremittingly for a socialist modern Xinjiang that is characterized by unity, harmony, prosperity, affluence, cultural progress and a sound eco-environment, where people live and work in peace and contentment.

Also delivering speeches at the meeting were Chen Xiaojiang, secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee; He Zhongyou, political commissar of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps; and representatives of the members of the public, including ethnic Uygur representative Amragul Abdu and ethnic Han representative Gu Xiangfeng.

Also present at the meeting were He Lifeng, Wang Xiaohong, Shohrat Zakir, Shen Yiqin, Wang Dongfeng, and Liu Zhenli. Those present also included veteran comrades who had worked in Xinjiang, leading officials from relevant central Party and state departments, all members of the central delegation, and leading officials from Xinjiang's Party and government departments and military units.