Recently, Bachu County in Xinjiang signed an agreement with Beijing Zhongke Keshibo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. to develop new cotton seeds and revitalize the local cotton industry. At Selibuya Town No. 3 Middle School, students now learn in new classrooms and enjoy a new playground, bringing vitality to the campus.
Fields and seeds embody the dream of industrial development. Schools and students nurture hope for the future. These changes reflect the unwavering efforts of the Bachu Division under Shanghai's Xinjiang Support Program. In 2024, the division actively supported the CPC Central Committee's major initiatives for Xinjiang and adhered to the principle of leveraging all resources to meet Bachu's development needs. Through comprehensive and multi-faceted efforts, the division fostered industrial development, improvements in people's well-being, cultural exchanges, and talent cultivation, providing robust momentum for Bachu's progress.
Industrial support for Xinjiang: extending supply chains for development
In 2024, the Bachu Division closely aligned its efforts with local priorities to provide robust industrial support. To improve cotton seeds, it partnered with Beijing Zhongke Keshibo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. to develop high-yield cotton seeds that are resistant to Verticillium wilt and saline-alkali conditions. To advance the weaving industry, it helped Xinjiang Xinxiheng Textile Technology and Daxiang Textile Technology to establish weaving plants, which facilitated the growth of spinning, weaving, and printing and dyeing enterprises. It also supported Xinjiang Jiyun Textile Technology's projects and integrated all links of the cotton textile industry chain to advance local printing and dyeing sectors. In June 2024, the cotton textile industry in Bachu County was recognized as an industrial cluster in Xinjiang.
While upgrading traditional industries, the division also ventured into new sectors. It supported the emerging vanadium-titanium magnetite industry and promoted the comprehensive treatment and sustainable use of saline-alkali land. Additionally, it secured the 6-million-ton mining and processing project for Yarkand Mining and actively participated in planning the vanadium-titanium industrial park.
To tackle the challenges posed by saline-alkali land, the division invested RMB 7 million in research. It introduced companies such as Shanghai Fushi Technology to enhance land quality. Furthermore, it facilitated a strategic partnership between the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Bachu County People's Government to jointly establish the Comprehensive Research Station for Field Scientific Observation of Microbial Resources and Innovative Utilization in Northwestern Arid Areas.
Livelihood support for Xinjiang: improving people's well-being
To enhance people's well-being, the Bachu Division took measures to strengthen urban and rural public infrastructure.
In 2024, Bachu opened its first indoor public sports facility—Bachu National Fitness Center. The renovated cultural and art center revitalized public service spaces. The establishment of Desert Poplar Academy, the county's first Chinese studies academy, and the upgraded library and community center enriched the cultural lives of residents. Additionally, the reconstructed laboratory in the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention reinforced public health safeguards.
Moreover, the division promoted urban and rural development by upgrading 12 kilometers of underdeveloped areas, restoring public transit in urban centers, and ensuring full coverage of fire rescue equipment in townships. It supported the construction of facilities at Selibuya Town No. 3 Middle School and Bachu No. 9 Middle School, completing projects such as sports fields at three schools. Furthermore, it established three model villages in Xinjiang, a 100-mu Liuxiang cantaloupe breeding base, silage cellars for 1,500 livestock breeding demonstration households, and agricultural product preservation and sorting facilities at Chengnan Agricultural Industrial Park. These initiatives promoted rural revitalization and strengthened efforts to engage, lead, and benefit farmers.
Educational and medical support for Xinjiang is crucial for fostering sustainable development momentum in Bachu. Twenty-three high-quality schools in Jing'an District partnered with 36 schools in Bachu County. The division advanced the "Red Willow Blossoms" educational aid program and implemented the "Leadership Project", "Vanguard Project", and "Seed Project", improving the skills of principals, key teachers, and new educators. It facilitated Shanghai-based training for teachers and students from the vocational high school in Bachu to cultivate a skilled workforce. Meanwhile, medical support initiatives continued to thrive. The "Sound of Hope" initiative restored hearing for 29 children, and the program aimed at reducing the incidence of infectious diseases, maternal mortality, and infant and child mortality, as well as increasing life expectancy, benefited many residents and significantly lowered child mortality rates. Medical staff from Bachu received training in Jing'an District, and experts in Shanghai were invited to conduct sessions, provide mentorship, and offer free medical consultations. These efforts bolstered hospital departments and enhanced telemedicine capabilities, substantially improving local healthcare standards.
Cultural support for Xinjiang: fostering ethnic unity
Cultural support initiatives enrich the communities of Bachu like spring rain. In 2024, the division promoted cultural exchanges between Bachu and Shanghai by sending 20 grassroots officials to Jing'an District for group-based on-the-job training. It also organized study tours to Shanghai for 140 grassroots officials to broaden their perspectives and reshape their concepts. During the summer, 506 students and teachers from Bachu visited Shanghai. The Shanghai-Bachu "Hand in Hand" initiative was recognized as a 2024 National Pilot Demonstration Project under the exchange program for youth of different ethnic groups implemented by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission. The division also coordinated the participation of 293 grassroots cultural lecturers, community leaders, and key volunteers in 10 batches for exchanges in Xinjiang and beyond. It promoted the Xiaohuyang initiative and encouraged Shanghai-based organizations and philanthropists to donate nearly RMB 6 million to support Bachu.
Furthermore, the division organized various engaging cultural and sporting events that enhanced Bachu's cultural profile and promoted its brand. In terms of football talent development in Bachu, the local team won the U15 championship at the 4th Great Glory Youth Football Championship in Shanghai. The division also facilitated the filming of Go Fighting! Season 10 on Dragon TV in Bachu. Moreover, it invited the Shanghai Light Music Orchestra, Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe, and Shanghai Puppet Theatre to perform nearly 50 shows in schools, workplaces, military camps, and villages, enriching the intellectual and cultural lives of local communities.
Team building: developing a solid workforce
The key to undertaking initiatives and entrepreneurship lies in responsibility. The Bachu Division focused on its self-improvement to cultivate a politically savvy, skilled, and disciplined team for Xinjiang support work. It strictly implemented the "three meetings and one lesson" protocol, deepening practice-oriented Party discipline education to improve the team's political judgment, understanding, and execution capabilities. To plan Xinjiang support projects, the division established organization, project, comprehensive, and publicity working groups and six specialized research teams focusing on areas such as industry, agriculture, cultural tourism, and urban construction. It invited deputies from the Bachu County People's Congress and CPPCC members to investigate Xinjiang support projects, gather public feedback, and hold citizen representative forums to address community needs and solicit suggestions. In addition, the division promoted community well-being through monthly group birthday celebrations, team-building activities, and earthquake relief drills to strengthen team cohesion. It completed mid-term rotations for teachers and doctors on 1.5-year assignments to ensure continuous and stable support.
In southern Xinjiang, a bridge of solidarity connected Shanghai and Xinjiang and fostered ethnic unity. Through collaborative efforts between the two regions, the division has crafted a remarkable chapter in Bachu, strengthened relationships, and worked together to build a brighter future.