Breakdown of Wang Huning's Speech on Xinjiang
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Friday, September 26, 2025.
Page 1: The first few pages are dedicated to Xi Jinping’s visit to Xinjiang. The main report essentially talks about the day’s festivities. The keynote speech on the day was delivered by Wang Huning. That speech is published on Page 4. Let me first work through that.
Wang said that the founding of the region 70 years ago “marked the beginning of a historic journey of unity, struggle, and common prosperity for all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.”
Over the past 70 years, especially since the beginning of the new era, under the leadership of the Party, the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have been the masters of their own affairs (当家作主) and continuously achieved great victories in socialist revolution, construction, and reform and opening up. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has persisted in examining and planning Xinjiang’s work from a strategic perspective, established the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the new era, and promoted historic achievements in all of Xinjiang’s undertakings. Xinjiang, together with the whole country, has won the battle against poverty and comprehensively built a moderately prosperous society. The great unity of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang has been continuously consolidated and deepened, and the awareness of the Chinese national community has taken deep root in people’s hearts. People of all ethnic groups, like pomegranate seeds, have embraced each other and proudly marched forward on the path of Chinese-style modernization. 70年来特别是新时代以来，在党的领导下，新疆各族人民共同当家作主，不断夺取社会主义革命、建设和改革开放的伟大胜利。以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持从战略上审视和谋划新疆工作，确立新时代党的治疆方略，推动新疆各项事业取得历史性成就，新疆同全国一道打赢脱贫攻坚战、全面建成小康社会，新疆各民族大团结不断巩固深化、中华民族共同体意识深入人心，各族人民像石榴籽一样紧紧抱在一起、昂首阔步走在中国式现代化道路上.
Over the past 70 years, Xinjiang’s economic development has achieved historic leaps and created achievements that have attracted global attention. The regional GDP has grown from 1.231 billion yuan in 1955 to 2,053.408 billion yuan in 2024, an increase of 203 times with an average annual growth rate of 8%. Highway mileage has grown from 8,820 kilometers in 1955 to 231,900 kilometers in 2024. Railways developed from nothing to total mileage reaching 9,234 kilometers in 2025. Passenger and freight airline routes have grown from 2 in 1955 to 611 in 2025. Xinjiang’s development is full of vitality. 70年来，新疆经济发展实现历史跨越、创造举世瞩目成就。地区生产总值从1955年的12.31亿元增长至2024年的20534.08亿元，增长203倍、年均增长8%。公路通车里程从1955年的8820公里增长至2024年的23.19万公里，铁路从无到有、2025年总里程达到9234公里，客货运航线从1955年的2条增长至2025年的611条，新疆发展生机勃勃.
Over the past 70 years, Xinjiang’s cultural construction has flourished vigorously, and the spiritual and cultural life of people of all ethnic groups has become increasingly rich. Cultural nourishment of Xinjiang has borne abundant fruit. Core socialist values have been widely promoted, work to forge a strong sense of Chinese national community has continuously deepened, the national common language and script have been popularized, the urban-rural public cultural service system has become increasingly complete, and the excellent cultures of all ethnic groups have been protected, inherited, promoted and developed, blooming together in the hundred-flowers garden of Chinese culture. 70年来，新疆文化建设蓬勃开展，各族人民精神文化生活日益丰富。文化润疆硕果累累，社会主义核心价值观广泛弘扬，铸牢中华民族共同体意识工作不断深入，国家通用语言文字推广普及，城乡公共文化服务体系日趋完善，各民族优秀文化得到保护传承和弘扬发展、在中华文化百花园里竞相绽放.
In the next bit, Wang talks about the population and people’s lives. He says that: “Xinjiang’s population has grown from 4.7836 million in 1953 to 25.8523 million in 2020, of which the ethnic minority population has grown from 4.4515 million in 1953 to 14.9322 million in 2020. Students in school have increased from 453,500 in 1955 to 6.3789 million in 2024, of which those in higher education have grown from 2,100 in 1955 to 810,400 in 2024. Medical and health institutions have grown from 54 in 1949 to 19,097 in 2024. Average life expectancy has increased from 30 years in the early liberation period to 77 years by the end of 2024. Xinjiang has achieved free health checkups for all people and achieved full coverage of 15 years of free education in southern Xinjiang. The sense of gain, happiness, and security of people of all ethnic groups has been significantly enhanced.” 新疆人口从1953年的478.36万人增长至2020年的2585.23万人、其中少数民族人口从1953年的445.15万人增长至2020年的1493.22万人，在校学生从1955年的45.35万人增长至2024年的637.89万人、其中高等院校在校学生从1955年的0.21万人增长至2024年的81.04万人，医疗卫生机构从1949年的54个增长至2024年的19097个，人均预期寿命从解放初期的30岁提升至2024年末的77岁。新疆实现全民免费健康体检，实现南疆15年免费教育全覆盖，各族群众获得感、幸福感、安全感显著增强.
The next two paragraphs talk about improvement in the ecology and support from other provinces in the country. Wang ends this section concluding that:
Xinjiang’s achievements have “relied on the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee, relied on the tenacious struggle of cadres and masses of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and relied on the strong support of people of all ethnic groups throughout the country. This fully demonstrates the significant advantages of Party leadership and the socialist system, fully shows the strong vitality of the correct path with Chinese characteristics for solving ethnic problems, and fully proves that the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the new era is completely correct.” 新疆维吾尔自治区70年来取得的辉煌成就，靠的是党中央坚强领导，靠的是新疆各族干部群众顽强拼搏，靠的是全国各族人民大力支援，充分彰显了党的领导和社会主义制度的显著优势，充分展现了中国特色解决民族问题正确道路的强大生命力，充分证明了新时代党的治疆方略是完全正确的.
He begins the second section of this speech talking about how Xinjiang had reached a new starting point.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: ‘the people of all ethnic groups share a common homeland, which is China; share a common identity, which is the Chinese nation; share a common name, which is Chinese people; share a common dream, which is to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.’ Cadres and masses from all ethnic groups in Xinjiang must persist in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, comprehensively implement and carry out the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee, deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments’, strengthen the ‘Four Consciousnesses’, enhance the ‘Four Confidences’, achieve the Two Safeguards, completely, accurately and comprehensively implement the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the new era, firmly grasp the overall objective of Xinjiang work, firmly grasp the main line of forging a strong sense of Chinese national community, always persist in governing Xinjiang according to law, stabilising Xinjiang through unity, nourishing Xinjiang through culture, benefiting the people and rejuvenating Xinjiang, and building Xinjiang for the long term, continuously advance fundamental, basic, and long-term work related to Xinjiang’s lasting stability and strive to write a new chapter in Xinjiang’s Chinese-style modernisation. 习近平总书记指出：“各族人民都有一个共同家园，就是中国；都有一个共同身份，就是中华民族；都有一个共同名字，就是中国人；都有一个共同梦想，就是实现中华民族伟大复兴。”新疆各族干部群众要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻落实党的二十大和二十届二中、三中全会精神，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，完整准确全面贯彻新时代党的治疆方略，紧紧扭住新疆工作总目标，牢牢把握铸牢中华民族共同体意识主线，始终坚持依法治疆、团结稳疆、文化润疆、富民兴疆、长期建疆，持续推进事关新疆长治久安的根本性、基础性、长远性工作，奋力谱写中国式现代化新疆篇章.
He then made five points:
First, always uphold and strengthen the Party’s comprehensive leadership. The Party’s leadership is where the foundation of the Party and the country lies, where their lifeline lies. It is what the interests and destiny of the people of all ethnic groups nationwide are tied to. We must persistently use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to unite hearts and forge souls, consciously maintain high alignment with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in thought, politics, and action, guide people of all ethnic groups to continuously enhance their identification with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and unswervingly obey the Party and follow the Party. 第一，始终坚持和加强党的全面领导。党的领导是党和国家的根本所在、命脉所在，是全国各族人民的利益所系、命运所系。要坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，自觉在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致，引导各族群众不断增进对伟大祖国、中华民族、中华文化、中国共产党、中国特色社会主义的认同，坚定不移听党话、跟党走.
Second, always maintain overall social stability in Xinjiang. Stability and unity in Xinjiang are hard-won and must be cherished. We must consolidate the order, unity, harmony, and security in Xinjiang, strengthen and innovate social governance, and build an ironclad defense to ensure social stability and long-term peace and order. 第二，始终维护新疆社会大局稳定。新疆安定团结局面来之不易，必须格外珍惜。要巩固新疆安定团结、和谐稳定局面，加强和创新社会治理，筑起维护社会稳定和长治久安的铜墙铁壁.
Third, always consolidate and develop the great unity of the Chinese nation. National unity is the lifeline of people of all ethnic groups in our country, and the consciousness of the Chinese national community is the foundation of national unity. We must persist in and perfect the system of regional ethnic autonomy, improve the institutional mechanisms for forging a strong sense of Chinese national community, strengthen the rule of law in religious affairs governance, promote extensive exchanges, communication and integration among all ethnic groups, and firmly establish the community concept of sharing weal and woe, sharing honour and disgrace, sharing life and death, and sharing destiny. We must persist in taking forging a strong sense of Chinese national community as the main line, deepen the creation of national unity and progress, comprehensively promote and popularise the national common language and script, guide people of all ethnic groups to establish correct views of the state, history, ethnicity, culture, and religion, enhance state consciousness, citizen consciousness, and rule of law consciousness, and build the common spiritual homeland of the Chinese nation. 第三，始终巩固发展中华民族大团结。民族团结是我国各族人民的生命线，中华民族共同体意识是民族团结之本。要坚持和完善民族区域自治制度，健全铸牢中华民族共同体意识制度机制，加强宗教事务治理法治化，促进各民族广泛交往交流交融，牢固树立休戚与共、荣辱与共、生死与共、命运与共的共同体理念。要坚持以铸牢中华民族共同体意识为主线，深化民族团结进步创建，全面推广普及国家通用语言文字，引导各族群众树立正确国家观、历史观、民族观、文化观、宗教观，增强国家意识、公民意识、法治意识，构筑中华民族共有精神家园.
Fourth, always closely focus on people’s livelihood to promote high-quality development. Advancing Xinjiang’s high-quality development and modernization construction faces new opportunities and requires new achievements. We must focus on building strategic pillars for the new development pattern, coordinate and advance new-type industrialization, new-type urbanization, and comprehensive rural revitalization, accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system that reflects Xinjiang’s characteristics and advantages, and cultivate and develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions. We must guarantee and improve people’s livelihood in development, steadily promote common prosperity for people of all ethnic groups. We must practice the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, making beautiful Xinjiang’s sky bluer, mountains greener, and water clearer. We must persist in comprehensive, precise, and long-term Xinjiang assistance, and raise the comprehensive effectiveness of paired assistance to Xinjiang. 第四，始终紧贴民生推动高质量发展。推进新疆高质量发展和现代化建设面临新机遇、要有新作为。要围绕打造新发展格局的战略支点，统筹推进新型工业化、新型城镇化和乡村全面振兴，加快构建体现新疆特色和优势的现代化产业体系，因地制宜培育和发展新质生产力。要在发展中保障和改善民生，稳步推动各族人民共同富裕。要践行绿水青山就是金山银山理念，让大美新疆天更蓝、山更绿、水更清。要坚持全面援疆、精准援疆、长期援疆，提升对口援疆综合效益.
Fifth, always unswervingly deepen reform and expand opening up. Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been an important hub connecting East and West along the Silk Road. In the future Xinjiang’s door of opening up will open wider and wider. We must further comprehensively deepen reform, advance the building of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, create a golden passage between Asia and Europe and a bridgehead for opening westward. We must tell the story of China’s Xinjiang well and show Xinjiang’s new appearance and new atmosphere of openness and confidence. 第五，始终坚定深化改革扩大开放。新疆自古就是丝绸之路上连接东西方的重要枢纽，未来新疆开放的大门将越开越大。要进一步全面深化改革，推进丝绸之路经济带核心区建设，打造亚欧黄金通道和向西开放桥头堡。要讲好中国新疆故事，展现新疆开放自信的新面貌新气象。
Wang concludes by highlighting the importance of upholding “the standards of good cadres in the new era” and building “a high-quality cadre team that is strong politically, strong in capability, and strong in work style, ensuring loyalty, integrity, and responsibility.” He also called to uphold the XPCC “spirit, uphold the principle of unity between the Corps and the region, and build new advantages for the Corps in maintaining stability and guarding the border in the new era.”
In addition to this, on the front page, there’s a message from the CPC Central Committee, the NPCSC, the State Council, the CPPCC, and the Central Military Commission congratulating Xinjiang. This message reiterates that:
“Practice has proven that the Party Central Committee’s major policies and guidelines for Xinjiang are completely correct, and that the path of resolving ethnic issues with Chinese characteristics is entirely correct.”
Page 3: This page focuses on Li Qiang’s visit to New York. Five meetings that he had are covered on the page.
First, the readout of Li’s meeting with Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the UNGA says:
Li “expressed China’s firm commitment to upholding the authority and the role of the United Nations. As the world has entered into a new period of turbulence and transformation with mounting instability and uncertainty, the role of the United Nations has become increasingly crucial, said Li. Noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping has solemnly put forward the Global Governance Initiative recently, Li said the move aims to support the United Nations in playing its due role in global affairs and encourage countries to work more closely and better cope with the challenges of the times via the United Nations and other multilateral mechanisms. China stands ready to enhance coordination and communication with the United Nations and all parties involved in a joint effort to implement the Global Governance Initiative, push for building a more just and equitable global governance system, and work towards a community with a shared future for humanity, said the Chinese premier. Li called on the United Nations to make advances in all the three pillar areas of peace, development and human rights in a balanced manner, and focus more on the development agenda. He said the United Nations should enhance global governance in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace, the polar regions and outer space, while taking into account the legitimate propositions and demands of the vast number of developing countries. Noting the Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests, Li said that China believes Baerbock and the United Nations will continue to uphold the one-China principle.”
As per the Chinese readout: “As UNGA Resolution 2758 is unambiguous, Baerbock said, the 80th session of the UNGA will firmly adhere to the one-China principle.”
Second, the report on Li’s meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres focuses on GGI. It says:
“Li said that Chinese President Xi Jinping recently put forward the GGI at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin, offering China’s wisdom and solutions for strengthening and improving global governance. According to Li, the UN secretary-general was invited to the summit, where he and Xi had in-depth exchanges on how the international community should respond to current global changes. China, Li said, pledges to enhance communication and coordination with the United Nations and all relevant parties and make greater contributions to world peace and development. Li noted that over the past 80 years, the United Nations has played an irreplaceable role in maintaining peace and security, promoting economic and social development, and safeguarding human rights. China will, as always, firmly uphold the United Nations’ status and authority, and support countries in making full use of the United Nations as a platform to strengthen dialogue and cooperation and take coordinated and effective actions.”
“Li warned that at present, some unilateralist and protectionist practices are undermining the world economy and seriously hindering the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He called on the international community, especially the Global South, to raise a stronger voice of justice, and jointly oppose bullying and hegemony to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all countries. The world should take more concrete actions to strengthen global development cooperation, safeguard free trade and economic globalization, and bolster common development and prosperity, he added. China has always closely aligned its own development with global development, Li said, pledging China’s readiness to continue to pursue high-level opening up, share development opportunities with other countries, and serve as a stabilizer and a driving force for the world economy. Li also expressed his hope that the United Nations will play a greater role in addressing climate change and artificial intelligence governance, among others, and fostering stronger synergy to tackle global challenges.”
Third, the report on Li’s meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides says:
“Next year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the fifth anniversary of their strategic partnership, ushering in new opportunities for the further deepening and development of bilateral cooperation, he said. Li pledged China’s readiness to work with Cyprus to carry forward their traditional friendship, strengthen high-level exchanges, uphold mutual respect, mutual trust, openness and cooperation, and push bilateral relations to new heights, so as to achieve more practical outcomes and bring more benefits to the two peoples. Noting that China understands and supports Cyprus in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, Li said his country appreciates Cyprus for adhering to the one-China principle. China is willing to work with Cyprus to further align their development strategies, and better leverage mechanisms such as the joint economic and trade committee, Li said. He also expressed China’s readiness to deepen and solidify cooperation in shipping, tap the potential for cooperation in emerging fields such as clean energy, as well as enhance exchanges in education, culture, youth and on local levels, so as to better achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. China is willing to import more high-quality agricultural and food products from Cyprus, Li said, urging the Cypriot side to continue to foster a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment, and provide more policy support for business cooperation between the two countries. Noting that the current international situation is marked by changes and turbulence, Li said China is willing to work closely with Cyprus in multilateral coordination, jointly practice true multilateralism, safeguard and promote free trade, and push for a more just and equitable global governance system. China welcomes the Cypriot side to actively participate in the Global Governance Initiative, he said. Li also expressed hope that Cyprus will continue to play a significant role in promoting the European Union (EU) to adhere to a rational and practical policy toward China, and in maintaining the right direction of the development of China-EU relations.”
Interestingly, the Chinese report attributes this to Christodoulides: “Cyprus firmly adheres to the one-China policy…” So, policy not principle.
Fourth, there’s a report on Li’s meeting with “friendly organizations in the United States”. Li told them that “China and the United States need to find the right way to get along in the new era.”
“China-U.S. relations are the most important bilateral relations in the world, Li said, and the two countries can and should be partners and friends. Looking back at history, friendly exchanges between China and the United States have been the mainstream and the general trend, Li said. As Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out, the broad Pacific Ocean is vast enough to embrace both China and the United States, as well as other countries, Li said. As the world’s two major countries, China and the United States should respect each other, coexist in peace, pursue win-win cooperation, and achieve common prosperity through mutual success, he said.”
“Economic and trade relations are an important component of bilateral ties, Li said. Given their distinct market structures and highly complementary industrial structures, as well as their significant roles in global industrial chains, closer economic and trade cooperation between China and the United States will mutually benefit the two countries and the world as a whole, Li said. Li said that China has the confidence and ability to maintain stable and healthy economic development, and create more opportunities for enterprises from all over the world, including U.S. companies. No matter how the external environment changes, China will do its utmost to provide greater certainty for the development of foreign businesses, Li added. The Chinese premier stressed that China will always work with the U.S. side to jointly promote the stabilization and improvement of China-U.S. economic and trade ties, on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit, while upholding a constructive and responsible attitude. In the meantime, China will always focus on development and promote the steady growth of its own economy, said Li. As China’s economy has a unique and stable operating mechanism, with market potential and innovation momentum being rapidly unleashed, and economic vitality continuously increasing, it will present enormous and foreseeable development opportunities for businesses, he said. Li added that China will always honor its commitments and unswervingly expand opening up, continuously relax market access, and expand imports. China will actively respond to foreign businesses’ concerns and offer help to resolve practical difficulties, so as to ensure that foreign businesses feel at ease when operating and developing in China.”
“Li stressed that as the foundation of the China-U.S. relationship lies in grassroots connections, its sound development requires the joint efforts of the people from both countries. He expressed hope that people from all walks of life in the United States will take more positive actions to enhance mutual understanding between the two countries, expand practical cooperation in various fields, and make greater contributions to promoting the development of both countries and enhancing their friendship.”
Finally, Li met with Bill Gates. The report says:
Li said that “China is ready to expand cooperation with the foundation by carrying out more cooperative projects across the entire health chain globally and actively engaging in trilateral and multilateral cooperation with developing countries to better benefit people and make greater contributions to global development, said the Chinese premier. Li expressed his hope that the foundation will continue to strengthen cooperation with relevant Chinese departments and local partners, leverage platforms such as the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute in Beijing and the Shanghai Center of Excellence for Global Health and Development, to implement cooperative projects. The sound and stable development of China-U.S. relations benefits not only the two countries but the world at large, Li noted. With mounting global challenges, he urged both countries to maintain close cooperation, strengthen and improve global governance, and jointly promote global stability, development and prosperity.”
Moving on, there’s a brief report on Li Shulei meeting with a visiting six-member delegation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The delegation is led by general secretary MA Baby. Another brief report informs that North Korea’s foreign minister Choe Son Hui will be visiting China from September 27 to 30.
Page 7: There’s a report informing that in August a total of 26,838 violations of central 8-point regulations were investigated and punished nationwide. A total of 34,480 individuals (including four provincial and ministerial-level officials and 110 prefectural and bureau-level officials) were criticized, educated, and disciplined; 23,547 individuals were given Party disciplinary and administrative sanctions.
There were 13,030 cases of formalism and bureaucratism; and there were 13,808 cases of hedonism and extravagance.