TIANSHANNET   ›   News   ›   Xinjiang News   ›   Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues

The Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

On August 30th, 2021, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region held a special press conference in Hotan, inviting 3 officials and 10 civilians from Hotan to talk about the development and changes of Hotan.

Hostess: Dear friends from the press, good morning! Welcome to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region’s press conference on Hotan. I am Mubarack Mugetti, the hostess of this press conference.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows the hostess Mubarack Mugetti speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

At present, the overall social situation in Xinjiang is stable. The people live and work in peace and contentment. The economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood have made unprecedented achievements, and the rights to survival, health and development enjoyed by the people of all ethnic groups have been fully guaranteed. This is a true portrayal of the unity, harmony, happiness and well-being of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including the Hotan people. It is noticeable and admirable worldwide. From the chaotic past to present harmony, stability and prosperity, Hotan Region, located in the southern edge of Taklimakan Desert, has undergone earth shaking changes since the founding of People’s Republic of China for more than 70 years ago .

Today, we have invited Mahemutti Wumairjiang, the Deputy Commissioner of Hotan Region Administration, Gulinisahan Yimin, the Director of Hotan Region Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, and Yin Ruhong, the Director of Hotan Prefecture Rural Revitalization Bureau, to introduce Hotan's economic and social development and improvement of people's livelihood.

In addition, we have also invited Patiguli Kasmu, the owner of a dessert store in Moyu County, Gulizimen Nuri, the owner of a clothing store in Xiaokang New District of Cele County, Venichemu Sedic, an employee of Xinjiang Jujube Rabbit Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd., Turson Kawuz, the head of Huinong Pomegranate Professional Cooperation in Pialema Township of Pishan County, Shepketti Guzetti, an accountant of Hotan Kunlun Bacterial Edge Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Nurbiyemu Yasen, a kindergarten teacher in Sanbebazaar Town, Yutian County, Miriguli Abudukremu, an employee of a cosmetics store in Hotan, AbdulkadirKerem, a mulberry paper producer in Puchakqi Town of Moyu County, Memettiwumeir Nigatti, a dancer of Hotan Xinyu Song and Dance Troupe, and Kayisar Tursontohutti, an business owenr in Hotan Night Market, to talk about their own experience and current life.

Next, let's give the floor to Mahemutti Wumairjiang, the Deputy Commissioner of Hotan Regional Administration, to introduce Hotan's economic and social development and improvement of people's livelihood.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Mahemutti Wumairjiang, the deputy commissioner of Hotan Region Administration speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Mahemutti Wumairjiang: Ladies and gentlemen, and fellow journalists:

Good morning, everyone! Glad to meet you all in Hotan. I would like to thank you for your long-term attention and support to Hotan! Welcome to today's press conference!

"The rooster’s sing announces the arrival of the daybreak, and the music of Khotan is played". Hotan, known as Khotan in ancient time, is located at the southernmost end of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It lies on the towering Kunlun in the South and enters the vast desert in the north, covering an area of nearly 250,000 square kilometers in total. G315 national highway runs across the whole region, and desert highway connects the North and the South part of the region. It is a major pathway connecting the East and the West in Xinjiang. Hotan has a long history and profound culture, with unique ethnic customs, splendid natural scenery and rich mineral resources. It is known as the hometown of jade, carpet and fruits. In recent years, with the strong support of our country, we have united and led cadres and people of all ethnic groups to work hard and overcome difficulties. Thus, Hotan's undertakings have achieved remarkable results and entered the best period of prosperity and development in history.

We have carried out the struggle against terrorism and de-radicalization in accordance with the constitution. We have also completely reversed the frequent occurrence of violence and terrorism in the past years, and there have been no violent terrorist cases for four consecutive years and eight months. Criminal and public security cases, including security cases and public security incidents, have decreased significantly. The infiltration of extremism has been effectively curbed, and the social security situation has improved significantly. So, the people are now living in peace and harmony. Today, Hotan's stable dividends are fully released. It’s urban and rural development has been renewed. The market players are full of vitality, and various undertakings are thriving. Whenever the lights are on, the squares and parks are crowded with people singing and laughing. The shopping malls and streets are crowded as well and traffic is quite busy, and Hotan’s night market even more crowded than anywhere else and you could barely find a seat to enjoy some foods. These are vivid displays of Hotan's overall social situation of continuous harmony and stability.

We adhere to promoting high-quality economic and social development, adhere to "grasping industry, promoting revitalization, maintaining stability and seeking development". We have also built an industrial system through motivating industry by employment, making industry promote employment and grasping the opportunity of industrial transfer in the East in just a few years, labor-intensive enterprises have grown from scratch, from small to large, ultimately to thousands of companies. With the rapid development of industry, Hotan has laid a good foundation for economic development, sufficient foundation for development, and greater confidence and determination in development. We firmly seize the opportunity of building the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt and continue to build an important road in southern Xinjiang, and we have successively built Kashgar-Hotan Railway, G3012 Moyu-Hotan Expressway and Yutian Wanfang Airport. Here, I would also like to disclose to you in advance that the railway line from Hotan to Ruoqiang is to be completed within this year, thus Hotan's regional advantages will be more prominent.

We insist on taking development as the fundamental way to solve poverty. We also improve development conditions, enhance development capacity, make efforts in industrial support, and realize the leap from point to area, from quantity to quality in leading agricultural industries such as donkey, cow, sheep, rabbit, pigeon, duck, goose, chicken and mushroom bag; In terms of employment and income increase, we will guide farmers to become modern industrial workers in an orderly manner, so that every able-bodied person can master the skills, allowing at least one member in each family to have a stable position and decent work; In terms of increasing ambition and trust, the masses have strengthened the practical spirit of "preferring to work hard rather than endure hardship". All the poor people have achieved "Two Assurances and Three Guarantees", and the poverty alleviation project has obtained a decisive victory and a well-off society has been fostered for the people in the whole country. We insisted on giving prominence to the consolidation and expansion of the achievements in the fight against poverty, firmly grasped it, continued to improve the lives of the people out of poverty in the revitalization of rural areas, took multiple measures to consolidate and expand the achievements in the fight against poverty, and resolutely held the fruits of victory in the fight against poverty. The people of all ethnic groups in Hotan have lived and worked in peace and contentment, stability and harmony, and their joy is evident.

Relying on the unique tourism resources of desert oasis, Millennium Silk Road and ethnic customs, we continue to build high-quality tourism routes, and the tourism industry shows a blowout growth. The number of tourists received in 2020 is nearly six times higher than that in 2012. More and more tourists choose to visit Hotan. In October this year, we also plan to hold the 2021 China Tower Ringing (International) Rally (Hotan Contest Division) to further enhance the popularity of "China, Special Tourism Destination". Here, we sincerely invite you to actively participate in and jointly experience the "Fast and Furious" on the desert Gobi. Relying on Hotan's unique food culture, we continue to launch the three food brands of "Hotan Night Market, Hotan Barbecue and Hotan Canteen". Hotan barbecue food such as watermelon barbecue, roasted sheep and roasted eggs is becoming increasingly famous. Tuancheng and Hotan Night Market have become national online punch in places. Hotan food is being promoted in an all-round way at an amazing speed. I believe you will soon see that Hotan cuisine continues to appear in large and medium-sized cities in China.

We continue to promote the project of benefiting the people, insist on doing everything that is beneficial to the people, and more than 70% of the general public budget is devoted to the preservation of people's livelihood, so as to solve the most concerned, direct and urgent problems relating to the livelihood of people of all ethnic groups. We adhere to the all-round development of education, so that every child can afford to study and study well. We insist on improving the level of medical and health services in an all-round way as well, and we have realized remote consultation with famous doctors in famous hospitals in places like Beijing and Tianjin, so that people can enjoy high-quality medical services in big cities without leaving Hotan; the full coverage of "diagnosis and treatment before payment" and "one-stop settlement" services are promoted, which greatly reduces the burden of seeing a doctor. We continue to improve the social security system, keep everyone in mind, and make every effort to solve urgent problems. Urban and rural basic medical insurance, old-age insurance, serious illness assistance, temporary assistance, subsistence allowances and other security policies should be guaranteed and helped, and the people's happiness index has risen in an all-round way.

We have fully implemented the party's ethnic policy and adhered to the unity and struggle of all ethnic groups for common prosperity and development. Ethnic unity and family friendly activities are blooming everywhere. Tens of thousands of cadres and workers of all ethnic groups have paired up with the masses. They have made friends with one another and forged relative-like relationships, and they are all in harmony with the masses like a family which holds them together like pomegranate seeds. It is particularly worth mentioning that the story of an arm-broken boy in Hotan not long ago, in this 8-hour "life relay", cadres and people of all ethnic groups raced against time and relayed with life. With efficient rescue actions, the arm-broken boy has received the best treatment, which explains the strength of national unity and the warmth of the big family of the motherland. This is the full embodiment of the strong sense of the Chinese nation community. It is the deep flesh and blood friendship of all ethnic groups as one family and watching each other. It is the rock solid national unity friendship and the best story of national unity.

Hotan is openning its arms to embrace the world. Friends from all over the world are welcome to visit Hotan more often to understand the development process of Hotan, just come and try the special food of Hotan, experience the customs of Hotan, and feel the happy life of Hotan people. Thank you!

Hostess: Thanks for the introduction from Mahemutti Wumairjiang. For a long time, media friends at home and abroad have paid great attention to the effectiveness of education and training in Xinjiang. In fact, after graduation, most of the students have achieved stable posts, with the improvement of the quality of their life. They are living a happy life. Patiguli Kasmu was once infected with extreme religious ideas and voluntarily applied to study in the vocational education and training center. In the vocational education and training center, she not only learned tthe standard written and spoken Chinese language, laws and regulations, but also mastered pastry making skills. After graduation, she lived a happy life through her own efforts. Now let's invite Patiguli Kasmu, the owner of a dessert shop in Moyu County, to tell her story.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Patiguli Kasmu speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Patiguli Kasmu: My name is Patiguli Kasmu. I'm 33 years old. I'm a graduate student of the vocational education and training center in Moyu County. My family has four people and now I’m running a dessert shop.

I like to eat cakes and desserts since I was a child. After graduating from school, I began to learn to make cakes and work while learning. After I got married in 2010, I opened a small dessert shop in Moyu county. The business in the shop was good and many people came. I was very happy. After getting familiar with some guests, they taught me that Muslim women can't go out to earn money, and the money they earn is not halal. After more contacting with them, my mind changed a lot, and I didn't want to open a shop. I thought about how to go to heaven all day.

Slowly, the business in the shop became worse and worse, and my husband began to ignore me. The children ran away when they saw me. There were fewer and fewer relatives and friends around me. I often lost my temper and quarreled with my family. My mother was very worried when she saw me like this and kept persuading me to go to the vocational education and training center.

Finally, under my mother's persuasion, I wrote an application and came to the vocational education and training center to study. The learning and living conditions of the vocational education and training center were very good, and there was no need for me to spend money on food, housing and learning. The food in the canteen was diverse, delicious and nutritious every day; There were air conditioners, televisions and a bathroom in the dormitory; Every day I studied in a spacious, bright and well-equipped classroom, and I had a fulfilled life.

When learning skills, I chose cake making. Although I used to run a dessert shop, the cakes I made had no special taste, with limited kinds . Through learning, my skills have been greatly improved and I have learned many new cooking methods and styles. As the days went by, my mind changed and I realized my previous ideas and behaviors were wrong, so I decided to start my life again.

After graduation, I opened a dessert shop with the techniques to make pastry I learned in school. Now there are more kinds of cakes in the store, and the taste becomes better. In order to attract more regular customers, I have expanded my business scope and now the shop offers hamburgers, fried drumsticks, drinks and other fast food. So, adults come to buy bread and dessert, and children come to eat fast food. I'm very busy every day.

The business in the store is getting better and better. After discussing with my husband, I decided to expand the shop and open another branch at the same time, but the funds were not sufficient. Just when we were worried, community cadres told me that there was a good policy that self-employed households could apply for interest-free loans and they encouraged me to give it a try. I didn't expect to really apply for an interest-free loan of 150,000 yuan. With it, I realized my dream. Now the two shops have 10 employees and 6 apprentices. Some apprentices have also opened their own dessert shop after learning pastry techniques in my shop.

Now, please look at my cake shop with me!

With the help of many hands, I succeeded in starting a business step by step through my own efforts, which made me who I am today. I plan to open another branch in Hotan city in the next three years to expand and strengthen the business of the cake shop. When I have the strength, I will open more branches of my shop in Xinjiang to provide more jobs and help more people get rich.

Here I want to tell you with facts that the vocational education and training center is the best school I have ever attended. When I was about to stray away, it was the vocational education and training center that saved me so that I didn't go farther and farther on the wrong road. Now I believe my life will be better and better!

Hostess: Thanks for the introduction from Patiguli Kasmu. As we all know, Hotan is located in the hinterland of Eurasia and belongs to inland arid area, with mountains and deserts accounting for more than 85% of the total area. Some mountainous areas in Cele County have poor natural conditions and difficult living conditions. In order to completely change this situation, the government is determined to relocate the residents. With the help of various favorable policies from the government, Gulizimen Nuri has realized "moving out to find a stable living and post", which fully guaranteed the conditions of housing, transportation, education, communication and other aspects of her life and thus making her a life full of happiness. Next, let's invite Gulizimen Nuri, the owner of a clothing store in Xiaokang New District of Cele County, to tell her story.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Gulizimen Nuri speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Gulizimen Nuri: My name is Gulizimen Nuri, and I’m 34 years old. I come from Xiaokang New District of Cele County. There are four people in my family. My husband, my daughter, my son and me. Our family used to be poor, but now we run a clothing store in the pedestrian street of Cele County and my husband is a chef in a hotel. Our life is very happy now. We have not only realized our dream, but also our family life is becoming more and more prosperous.

I grew up in Nur mountain area of Cele County. When the rainy season set in, there were often mudslides and floods. The road was not good for travel and communication with the outside seemed out of the question. Later, I married to Gulahema Town of Cele County. My family lived in an old and small earthen house and lived on 3 mus of land. My husband did odd jobs to subsidize my family. I didn't have any skill. All I could do was to take care of my children at home and we lived a tough life.

In 2018, with the beneficial policy of relocation for poverty alleviation, we took the initiative to apply for relocation, and our country also provided us with housing, medical care and education security. With the support of our country, the Xiaokang New District has built rows of new houses and newly reclaimed land. At that time, my husband and I went to see it and felt that the conditions were very good. We immediately decided to move to the Xiaokang New District. Now we’re living in a house with very good conditions. It is a bright and spacious house with brick and concrete structure and it has its own small yard. We can plant vegetables and all kinds of beautiful flowers in the yard. After the relocation, our family has also enjoyed many favorable policies, with a heating subsidy of 800 yuan per year. The government also distributed 36 sheep and 12 mus of land to our family. Now red dates have been planted in the land. Besides, there are all kinds of shops and vegetable and fruit shops in the new area. Everything here is the same as that in the county. The daily necessities are also very complete. Now our life is greatly improved.

My family's life is getting better and better with the support of national policies. I am more and more confident and energetic. I have always had a dream of opening my own clothing store, but I haven't had enough money. In 2019, with the help of the village committee, I successfully applied for a national interest discount loan of 50,000 yuan. With this fund, I opened my own clothing store in the county, with a pure income of more than 3,000 yuan a month. My husband used to have no skills with meager earnings. Later, he participated in the skill training held by the county and obtained the cook certificate. Now he works as a cook in a hotel in Gulahema Town, with a monthly salary of 5,000 yuan. Besides, we also have an annual income of more than 30,000 yuan from planting and breeding. Our income has changed dramatically. Compared with the past, this is something we dare not think of.

My two children go to school not far from home. My daughter goes to primary school in the town, and my son's kindergarten is next to our home. They go to school and kindergarten for free. Schools and kindergartens also arrange their meals, so we don't have to pay a penny. It can be said that the state has eliminated all our worries, difficulties and concerns, so that we parents have more time to do business and make money.

Now our life is really great. The asphalt road has been paved to the door of the house .The street lamps have been installed. Clean natural gas is used for cooking, and tap water is always available when you turn on the tap. I've been thinking and looking forward to the ideal life, but I didn't expect it to come true so soon. I am very grateful to the government for their help. I want to live a better life with my own efforts. I believe our family will live better and happier.

Now, please watch a video with me.

Hostess: Thaks Gulizimen Nuri for her sharing. For a while, the anti-China forces in the United States and other western countries concoct lies about so-called "forced labor" and turned a blind eye to the fact that people of all ethnic groups here became rich through employment, and wantonly slandered Xinjiang. The fact is that workers of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have complete freedom to choose their occupations. They are free where they go and what work they do, and their personal freedom has never been restricted. Next, I would like to invite Venichemu Sedic, an employee of Xinjiang Zaotu Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd., to tell her story.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Venichemu Sedic speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Venichemu Sedic: Hello everyone, my name is Venichemu Sedic, I'm 25 years old, there are six members in my family. I was born in Hotan and grew up there, I am a truly native Hotan girl.

In June 2020, after graduating from Xinjiang Normal University, I received offers from several companies. After thinking twice, I finally gave up, because I wanted to return to Hotan and contribute to the development of my hometown. At this moment, I saw the recruitment information of Xinjiang Zaotu Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd. from the Internet, so I voted for a resume with the idea of having a try. Unexpectedly, a few days later, I received a call from the Personnel Management Department of Xinjiang Zaotu Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd . They said that my resume met the requirements and they wanted to find a time to meet me. After many interviews, I was accepted by the company. I told my parents the good news immediately. On hearing that the company not only offered me a monthly salary of 4,000 yuan, but also paid five insurances for me, they are all very happy for me.

After signing the labor contract with the company, the manager started taking me to familiarize myself with the plant. The new factories, the neat and clean rabbit houses and the orderly arrangement of advanced production equipment made me feel shocked and excited, and the happy smiles of my colleagues made me feel particularly warm. Since I was first exposed to this job and had no experience in raising rabbits, the company arranged for me to be responsible for paperwork and logistics management. When I am at work, I often encounter some difficulties and make some mistakes, but the company's leaders and colleagues always actively help me, encourage me, and patiently guide me. Gradually, I work better and better, and become more confident.

The canteen in our company provide buffet everyday, we can choose food according to our taste. When it is in the festival, the company will also organize all kinds of recreational activities, we sing and dance together cheerfully, eat and chat together, this kind of happy life let me feel going back to university, it is so happy.

Our company adopts the graded breeding production and marketing chain mode of "company + base + farmers + market", and implements the mode of "uniform supply of breeding rabbits, uniform feed, uniform epidemics prevention and control , uniform technical service and uniform protective price for purchase" to drive nearby farmers to develop rabbit breeding and meat rabbit fattening. Now, the number of farmers belonging to our company has reached more than 2,700, with an average of more than 100 breeding rabbits per household, 4,000-5,000 commercial rabbits are sold per year, with an annual benefit of 20,000-30,000 yuan, and absorb hundreds of nearby employees. Nearby farmers can earn money without going out of their homes. My friend Xiao Bu in Buzak Township is one of them. In 2020, she sold more than 4,000 rabbits, and her net income reached more than 20,000 yuan. By raising rabbits, she has improved the life of her family. Every time she meets me, she will be happy to share with me the experience of raising rabbits and the changes in her family.

Now, I am fully devoted into this job, my comprehensive ability has been improved while I also made a lot of good friends. What delights me most is that I can use my salary not only buy clothes for my parents, books and toys for my brother, but also the home appliances. Seeing my efforts, my family are very happy.

Recently, I saw the anti-China forces in the United States and other western countries smeared that there was "forced labor" in Xinjiang, I find it very ridiculous. I am very angry, these are ulterior motives of fabrication, completely inconsistent with the fact that we commute to work on time every day, every month have a stable income, we can also go shopping with friends in free time, is this "forced labor"? I use my personal experience to tell you the truth.

Now, please follow me and see the place where I work.

Hostess: Thanks Venichemu Sedic for her sharing. Piaman pomegranates in Pishan County, Hotan Prefecture are well-known both inside and outside Xinjiang. The head of the Huinong Cooperative in Pishan County, Turson Kawuz, with the help of the government, has developed a high-quality characteristic pomegranate industry, with the accumulation of wealth. Next please give the floor to Turson Kawuz, head of the Huinon Pomegranates Professional Cooperative in Pialema Township, Pishan County, to tell his story.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Turson Kawuz speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Turson Kawuz: I'm Turson Kawuz, there are four people in my family, I'm the head of the Huinon Pomegranates Professional Cooperative in Pialema Township, Pishan County, last year my annual income reached 270,000 yuan.

When I was young, pomegranates were grown in every household in our county. At that time, because of lack of experience and poor field management, pomegranate production was low, quality was also not good. So grandpa and father followed our neighbor Uncle Mijitti, whose pomegranate production is relatively high, to learn planting, pruning, fertilizing and other knowledge. Gradually our pomegranates in terms of yield and quality have been greatly improved. With the increasing income, we expanded the scale of planting. But at that time, our pomegranates were mainly sold in Hotan, and the price was not high.

After graduating from high school, in order to broaden the sales channels, my father send me to Urumqi to promote pomegranates in Pialeman Township, I became the first one in the town to go to Urumqi to sell pomegranates. During this time, I met Mr. Chen, a businessman from Shanghai. He stared at our packaging for a long time, and then asked, "I have only heard of Kashgar pomegranates, I don't know that Hotan also produces pomegranates?" On hearing this, I immediately removed a box of pomegranates from the car, opened the box to let passers-by taste, not long after, there are many people around me, tasting the pomegranates from Hotan with relish. I won many praises. After Mr. Chen had tasted it, he immediately bought all my remaining pomegranates. Our pomegranates have been recognized by everyone, in just one day I sold 11 tons of pomegranate, having earned 90,000 yuan, I was very happy. Subsequently, I and Mr. Chen set up a good relationship of cooperation, from that year, pomegranate in Hotan gradually began to be sold throughout the country. It became more and more well-known and our brand became popular.

I sell pomegranates and think about how to increase the harvest and quality. In 2015, I met brother Wang in Zepu County who managed peach orchard. I learned the skills to manage peach orchard. For example, how to expand the branches, so it can be ventilated and sun better, in order to achieve the effect that the fruit color bright, large and full. Back home, I used this method on six pomegranate trees, after a year of cultivation, the fruit of these pomegranate trees is big and good, the quality has also been improved. The next year, after the full application of this method, the income by my family's 12 mus of pomegranates added 13,000 yuan. Later, I combined the management experience of planting peach trees with the experience of pomegranate management, and the harvest increased from 500 kilograms per mu to 1,700 kilograms per mu.

In January of 2018, in order to improve the brand market competitiveness of our pomegranate, under the guidance and help of agricultural technology expert, I and 8 partners officially established the Huinon Pomegranates Professional Cooperative in Pialema Township, investing more than 280,000 yuan, with a total value of more than 3.8 million pomegranates also as a share. At present, the area of pomegranate cultivation in the cooperative has reached 112 mu. Not only in products and services to improve standards, but also carried out brand design, packaging and price system development, we adopt uniform standardized management, uniform fertilization, uniform picking, uniform packaging. I have also tried to develop more sales channels, such as online sales, and signed a four-year sales contract with the Uygur Medical Hospital ( Second People's Hospital of the Autonomous Region). The pomegranates in our county are selling better and better, and the price is guaranteed.

Driven by the cooperative, more and more villagers began to grow pomegranates scientifically. Every year during pomegranate harvest season, the most exciting thing for me is to see the harvest of hard-earned pomegranates, the streets are full of vehicles of buyers who are from all over the country. Every time when harvesting, the cooperative also employs 50 farmers for uniform picking and packaging. In 2018, our cooperative has sold 800 tons of pomegranates in the county. Now, the brand of pomegranate in Hotan is growing, with increasing popularity and trust from consumers.

Next, please watch my video.

In the cooperative with the villagers' joint efforts, through the improvement of planting techniques, with the growing influence of pomegranate brand, expanded sales channels of pomegranates, now Hotan pomegranate has become a household name, which are sold to all parts of the country. It has become not only Hotan's business card, but also the "fruit leading to wealth." Our cooperative is getting better and better, pomegranate sales is increasing year by year, growers' living standard is rising year by year, and days are much more prosperous than before.

Hostess: Thanks for the introduction from Turson Kawuz. With the release of the social stability benefit in Hotan, more and more young people choose to return to their hometown actively, to contribute to the construction of their hometown. Using what he learned at university, Shepketti Guzetti from Lop County opened an influencer selfie gallery in Luopu County and introduced the Internet pop element, which is popular with young people. In addition, he also has other job to do. Next, let's give the floor to Shepketti Guzetti, accountant of Hotan Kunlun Junyuan Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., to tell his story.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Shepketti Guzett speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Shepketti Guzetti: Hello everyone! I am Shepketti Guzett, 24 years old and come from Luopu, Hotan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwestern China. I’m not only the accountant of the Hotan Kunlunjunyuan Agricultural Science & Technology Corporation Ltd, but also the owner of an online celebrity selfies hall. Today I would like to share the story of employment and starting up.

My parents are teachers have attached much importance to my studies. I was often tutored by them in high school. In 2016, living up to their expectations, I was admitted to the Business School of the Xinjiang University of Finance & Economy, majoring in accounting. When I got the letter of admission, our family felt very happy. I always bear the words they told me “ Study hard and to be a useful person to society.” During the period of college, I not only tried my best to learn accounting skills, but became a model by developing my own hobby. My schoolmates and I usually went outside to take photos. We have a chat group where we share our own photos with others and some enterprises would hire us to take some posters and brochures.

In 2020, when I was about to graduate, the university recommended me a number of financial posts in some corporations or enterprises in Urumqi, but I turned them all down because of my very early determination to return to my hometown to devote myself to its construction. Because I found that few people were pursuing the fashion elements and were doing related jobs after returning to Lop, I decided to make full use of my hobby to open an online celebrity selfies hall, contributing to the construction of my hometown via youthful, dynamic and modern cultural elements.

Although at first they were very much against me after that knew about my starting up idea, finally my parents agreed with me and invested a sum of money under the persuasion of my friends and I, especially after they knew my starting up purpose. During that period, I was in a state of hope every day. I quickly picked a shop located in the county center square. Square is a place where people can relax and enjoy themselves and it is usually crowded, so it would be much easier to show my own thoughts about fashion to others. Moreover, I got some advice from the owners of online celebrity selfies halls I knew in university on the style and decoration of my hall. I felt that I was getting closer to success.

But then, I found that I had almost run out of my capital prepared previously, but I needed to spend lots of money on abundant selfies equipment, props and costumes for opening. At that time, my friend told me that college graduates could apply up to 50,000 yuan interest free loans to start up. I went to the bank for loans at once, and after more than two months of preparation, my online celebrity selfies hall was officially opened. Though I had done a lot of publicity for my own hall, I was still a little worried because this was my first time to start a business and the online celebrity selfies hall was poorly understood in my hometown. To my surprise, the hall quickly became famous just one month after opening. Many young people like me were fond of taking and enjoying selfies in my hall. The turnover reached 10,000 yuan even in the first month. I felt like I was achieving my dream step by step.

Since my own business ran on track, I wanted to apply financial management skills learned in university to work. Through my friend’s introduction, I took and passed the interview of the Hotan Kunlunjunyuan Agricultural Science &Technology Corporation Ltd, gaining the position of accountant responsible for managing financial affairs, paying employees’ insurance and signing contracts with employees ,etc. My company is a modern agricultural company, whose main business is planting and processing mushrooms, providing lots of jobs for local people. Most of the company’s employees are local people. They can earn two to five thousand yuan a month in a place not far from home.

Next, let’s watch my video.

Now, I not only have a steady income, but also have my favorite job. I would use my money to buy my parents some gifts at festivals . I am so happy to see their smiles. In the future , I’d like to see my hometown absorb more elements of fashion culture, so that people in Lop can also keep up with the pace of the new era.

Recently, I found that the American and western anti-China force denigrated China with the so-called “forced labor” in Xinjiang. They are so hateful. I went to college to learn financial management knowledge, chose a job on my own will and achieve my dream by starting my own business depending on my hobby. No one forced me at all. To those gossip makers, please stop nonsense! No matter what you say, it will never affect our happy life.

Hostess: Thank you, Shepketti Guzetti, for your speech. The government of Xinjiang attached great importance to the development of education. Focusing on Kashgar, Kizilsu, Aksu and Hotan, the government has done everything to fully make free pre-school education available in rural areas. The number of kindergartens in Hotan increased from 390 in 2016 to 1,260 today. At present, free pre-school education is available all over Hotan. Every child can have lunch for free in kindergarten in any village. Now, let’s welcome Nurbiyemu Yasen, the kindergarten teacher of Xianbaibazha Town in Yutian County, to tell her story.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Nurbiyemu Yasen speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Nurbiyemu Yasen: My name is Nurbiyemu Yasen. I am 26 years old. I grew up in Keriya and worked as a teacher in the kindergarten of Xianbaibazha Townin in Yutian County.

My dream is to become a kindergarten teacher. It has been 8 years since I graduated from college and chose to become a teacher. I lived a very full life in kindergarten every day. Every morning, at half past nine, all teachers in kindergarten, including I, would be at the school gate or crossing nearby to help children cross the street and arrive at school safely. Watching the lively and lovely kids lining up to enter the school, I was happy for their cleverness. Greeted by the adorable children, I was touched by their politeness.

For the sake of their health, children are provided with various nutritious foods in kindergarten. In the morning, we have milk, eggs, biscuits and bread, which are children’s favorites. Children can have what they want according to their taste. In my class, there is an adorable pair of twins. The elder sister likes fried spicy chicken while the younger brother likes pilaf and meat buns. They usually argue loudly about their favorite food in front of the meal table, just like two confident debaters.

To develop children’s interest in learning, our classrooms are equipped with children’s desks and chairs, toy cabinet and electronic piano, etc. Children can enrich their knowledge and understand the truth through entertainment in the form of telling stories, playing games and dancing, etc. They enjoy listening to stories. Once I was telling them the story of A Crow Drinking Water, some didn’t know what “crow” means. As soon as I told them “crow” means “kaga”(Uygur language, means crow), they all had a moment of enlightenment. In that class, they were all ears in what I said. After class, they were all around and told me they would use their wit to find solutions as the clever crow when they are faced with trouble.

To make the children’s school life more interesting, the kindergarten was equipped with a playground, sandpit and some entertaining facilities such as slides, handcart, and toy wooden horse, etc. After warmed up with me, children would eagerly come to take my hand and ask me to play with them. Although our kids are still very young, they would wave their hands and twist their necks whenever the music started. Patiguli, a student in my class, would rotate elegantly as long as she heard the music “Meshrep”. All the students gathered together, laughing and dancing to their hearts’ content.

In order to let the students have a good rest in school at noon, our kindergarten was equipped with a free cot and bedding for them. After lunch, I would help children to set up the bedding and put them to bed. During this time, I would always be there for them. Because some kids like Mattina always slept sprawled all over the bed, so I would be there to tuck them in case that they catch a cold.

When all classes were over, I would wait for the parents to pick up their kids at the school gate in advance, then make sure that they got their kids. Every time I was asked by them about their kids’ performance in kindergarten, I would tell them with a smile on my face that their kids were obedient and clever. Before they left, I would remind them of the safety on the road and taking good care of kids.

Now, let’s see our kindergarten.

I am not only a teacher, but also a mother, a considerate sister of the children. I am touched by their every eye contact, every body language. Seeing they can grow up happily and healthily, I feel all my efforts are worthwhile.

Recently, through the Internet, I found that more than 1,300 unmarked children’s corpses of the aborigines were gradually found on the sites of Catholic boarding schools in Canada. This is really shocking and horrible. It is ridiculous that the Canadian government accuses us of genocide without any proof , while ignoring the real genocide that happened on their own land. I am a Uygur teacher, so I know the truth: our children are living happy lives in sunshine; they have a country to protect them, a group of teachers to care for them and a pair of parents to love them. What a happy life they have!

Hostess: Gratitude goes to Nurbiyemu Yasen for her presentation. It has been some time for the anti-China forces in the United States and the West falsely accuse Xinjiang of committing "forced sterilization". However, the fact is that the reproductive rights of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have been well guaranteed. Miriguli Abudukremu and her husband raise 3 children. And during her pregnancy, she was offered free birth examination every month and precious care from doctors. Now the three children of hers are all physically and mentally healthy, lively and cheerful. Next, let's invite Miriguli Abudukremu, the employee of a cosmetics store in Hotan, to tell her story. And let’s begin with a short video.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Miriguli Abudukremu speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Miriguli Abudukremu: Hello, everyone! My name is Miriguli Abudukremu. I believe the video just showed the happy life that I share with my husband and our three children. I am 30 years old, from Hotan. And now, I work in a cosmetics store in Hotan city.

My husband and I have known each other since childhood. And I have been attracted to this energetic, optimistic and humorous man. Then we got married and when receiving the marriage certificate, the staff of the Civil Affairs Bureau gave us some some publicity materials on reproductive health. Since we got married, we have been living a happy life. And I got pregnant soon after the marriage.

I remember that during pregnancy, I felt especially nervous when I went to the health center for my first examination. But the doctor told me not to worry because all indicators showed that I was good, and that I just needed to have regular examination. The doctor also told us some points for attention during pregnancy and gave us folic acid tablets. With regular medical examination and the precious care of my family, I had my eldest son successfully, and the whole family was then immersed in happiness.

As our kid grew up day by day, I want to give him more nutrition. So I talked to my husband that we should feed our kid with more milk. My husband agreed and said that we must buy the most expensive milk powder, because he believed the price is higher, the better the milk powder is. But I did not think that we must buy the most expensive one. Instead, it is the priority that the milk must conform to the child's physical condition. Finally, we went to a store in the county and buy the milk powder that was not expensive but suitable for our kid. And our kid drank both powdered milk and breast milk.

Then our eldest son was old enough to go to kindergarten. And every time he saw me after school, he said happily, "Mom, the teacher praised me for my good performance today. At noon, I ate a bowl of rice with chicken, fruit and cookies. I was also the first kid who fell asleep during the nap. Then in the afternoon, I drew pictures and played games, sang and danced, and played slides with other children, Mom, I am a good kid, right? "

Later, we had a daughter and one more son. Now, our eldest boy and daughter are in primary school. And the school costs basically no money since books and lunches are free. They devote themselves to studies and do really good. As for our youngest son, he has entered kindergarten. My husband and I will take our children to school and pick them up every day. When we get home, my husband will tutor the eldest son and daughter with their schoolwork and then play with the children, while I will cook in the kitchen. Together, we are living a happy life.

Listed in the young generation of the new era, I will work hard to provide my children with better living conditions and family environment, so all my children can receive a good education and become useful to the society in the future.

As for the recent rumor that Xinjiang is committing "genocide" and "forced sterilization" on we Uygur, is totally nonsense. Think about it, if there is "genocide" or "forced sterilization" in Xinjiang, how can I give birth to my three children? So I want to tell the people who speak nonsense all day long that you should just mind your own business. Don't judge about our life. Because we are the one who know best in hearts that whether we are living a good life or not. And you should stop daydreaming about destroying our happy life.

Hostess: Gratitude goes to Miriguli Abudukremu for her presentation. Xinjiang attaches great importance to the inheritance, protection and development of the excellent traditional culture of all ethnic groups. That is why the Regulations of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage is formulated. On May 20, 2006, the technique of producing mulberry paper was approved by the State Council to be included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, which brought new opportunities for the development of mulberry paper. Now let's invite Abdulkadir Kerem, a mulberry paper producer in Puchaqiqi Town, Moyu County, to tell his story.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Abdulkadir Kerem speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Abdulkadir Kerem: My name is Abdulkadir Kerem. And I'm 45 years old. There are four people in my family. I am the apprentice of Mr. Tohtibak, the representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage project. Now, I am engaged in the production of mulberry paper in an old and well-known mulberry paper family in Puchakeqi Town, Moyu County.

I grew up surrounded by mulberry trees. And almost every day, I could see old Mr. Tohtibak making mulberry paper. At that time, I felt it was interesting. So as long as I was free, I ran to Mr. Tohtibak’s to help. As time goes by, the old sir found that I was clever enough, so he began to tell me about the history of mulberry paper, teach me how to produce mulberry paper, and explain to me the function of the paper.

Then I gradually found out that Mr. Tohtibak had learned to produce mulberry paper with his father since he was 5 years old. He was the 11th generation of the "technique for producing mulberry paper " and he devoted himself to the inheritance and promotion of traditional handicraft of making "mulberry paper" all his life. What is more, I learned that mulberry paper is the paper made of the inner bark of the mulberry branches. Its technique of production has a long history and it is known as the "living fossil" of paper-making. Mulberry paper is endowed with the characteristics of bright ink level, soft texture, strong resilience, good strength. Besides, it is insect resistant, toxicity free with strong water absorbability, which makes it easy to preserve. And this kind of paper is mainly used for high-level calligraphy and painting and its mounting, umbrella making, fan making, etc.

After learning about the history and function of mulberry paper, I think it's amazing to make paper out of mulberry bark. That is why I wanted to learn to make mulberry paper. So then in May 1998, I began to learn to produce mulberry paper from my master. By now, I have been engaged in this industry for 23 years.

Now, I have mastered the eight procedures making of mulberry paper, including soaking, peeling, pot boiling, pounding, fermentation, cleaning, molding and drying.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Abdulkadir Kerem, a mulberry paper producer in Puchaqiqi Town, Moyu County shows mulberry paper painting at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Every July, we will select right mulberry branches, and then store them in the designated warehouse after cleaned and dried. That is how we store the raw materials for mulberry paper in the coming year. The annual turnover of our mulberry paper family can reach more than 1 million yuan. And my wife and I can earn 6000 yuan a month when we make mulberry paper together.

In the year of 2006, the technique of producing mulberry paper was included into the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. And in May 2007, the Ministry of Culture identified my master as the representative inheritor of the cultural heritage project of mulberry paper. As a result, our county government has invested more than 7 million yuan to build a mulberry paper museum, establish a mulberry paper base and launch training courses on producing mulberry paper, which not only effectively solves the problem of lack of raw materials, but also expands the number of successors of mulberry paper making. In December of 2019, my wife obtained an honorary certificate for excellent performance in the training course on inheritance of Hotan mulberry paper making in Moyu County, . Now many painters and calligraphers at home and abroad are attracted to here for the famous mulberry paper, they not only buy the paper but also want to learn more about its story.

There is a mulberry tree at the gate of our factory, which was planted by my master. He always said: the traditional technique of making mulberry paper should be inherited from generation to generation, and further developed, so that the whole world can see the magic of mulberry paper. This mulberry tree has witnessed and recorded the history of the technique of mulberry paper, and it also inspires me a lot. And that is why I will continue to work until my last day, so that more people will know and use mulberry paper, and inherit the technique of manufacturing mulberry paper.

Now, let us see how is the mulberry paper manufactured.

Hostess: Thanks to Abdulkadir Kerem for his story. Uygur is an ethnic group endowed with great singing and dancing skills. Memettiwumeir Nigatti, a dancer of Xinyu Ensemble of Hotan, has loved dance since he was a child. His dance "Dream of Kunlun" won the gold price of the 9th Chinese "Lotus Award", which show the people of all ethnic groups across the country the charm of Uygur dance. Now let's invite Memettiwumeir Nigatti, the dancer of Xinyu Ensemble in Hotan Prefecture, to tell his story.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Memettiwumeir Nigati speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Memettiwumeir Nigatti: My name is Maittiwumeir Nigati. And I'm 38 years old. Now I work as a choreographer as well as a dancer of Xinyu Ensemble.

The old saying that "One minute on stage takes ten-year practice" is true even for Uygur people who are endowed with talents of dancing. As a native of Hotan, I always felt that dancing was very simple when I was a child. But when I began to study systematically, I found that dancing cannot be done well with mere enthusiasm, it also takes countless sweat in the dancing room.

When I was a child, I loved dancing, so I often sang and danced with my mother who was engaged in literary and artistic work. Then when I went to college, I naturally chose to major in dancing. Since then, I have been studying dancing in a holistic way and my dancing career unrolled in front of me.

Then it was a great honor for me to work in the famous Xinyu Ensemble right after graduation. Speaking of this, I'd like to introduce you the Xinyu Ensemble. The Xinyu Ensemble grew out of the Xinyu Art Troup named by Premier Zhou Enlai. Founded in 1957, it mainly performs Uygur dance, ethnic instrumental music and "Laipal", a traditional art treasure in Hotan. At present, there are a number of well-known artistic talents in the Ensemble, such as national first-class actor Xiarapat Reherman, first prize winner of national minority musical instrument competition Abudoxuk Memetti, gold prize winner of Xinjiang Rawap, Muradili Muhetar, successor of Xinjiang Ballaman, Tuxunjiang Tohuseti, and so on.

Influenced by my colleagues, I obtained a deeper and deeper understanding of dance art. So I focus more on my daily practice and creation. In 2013, as the leading dancer, I and my partners won the golden medal in the 9th "Lotus Award" with the work named “Dream of Kunlun”. I still remember when the judges showed 99.8 points, my partners and I were so excited that we hugged each other and shed tears. This award is honoring my team and Hotan artists as much as it is honoring me. Because of our efforts, Hotan dance has moved to stand in front of the whole country. And it is worth mentioning that in that competition, the woman's group dancing “Khotan women” of our Ensemble also won the bronze award and the award for best costume.

In the following years, we continued to create and perform more excellent works such as Visitors on the Ice Mountain, Maitusong’s Happy Life, Music Around the World · New Hotan, which are popular among the audience. Our stage also expands from Hotan to the whole Xinjiang and then to all over the country. We dance to publicize our beautiful homeland and more people thus come to know Hotan.

As the saying goes "three days without practice, the audience knows" , there is no room for laziness in artistic performance. That is why I am always strict with myself. Sometimes I practice dozens of times in the rehearsal in order to perform well. I remember that I was selected as the protagonist in the musical play Maitusong’s Happy Life. But growing up in the city, I didn't know much about the farmers’ life. So when I practiced the to perform the musical play, I couldn't do well, and I didn't make any progress in repeated rehearsals. Then my colleagues and I visited many people so as to achieve progress. We lived and worked with them, and listened to their stories of poverty alleviation, which moved me a lot. In later rehearsals, I quickly integrated into the character, and the performance was greatly improved. As a result, I won the applause and praise from the audience in the living performance.

Actually, my mother is here with us. So please allow me and my mother to bring you a Uygur dance.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Memettiwumeir Nigati, the dancer of Xinyu Ensemble dances with his mother at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Now, our stage is expanding wide and spacious. On behalf of Hotan literary and artistic workers, we are walking to the whole country, performing in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Anhui and other places, presenting graceful dances and beautiful instrumental music to audiences of all ethnic groups across the country. We unveil the mystery of famous cities in the western regions for the nation, and also have exchanges with literary and artistic workers around the country so as to continuously improve the our works. I believe that in the future, our literary and artistic works of Hotan will go all over the world along the new Silk Road. And with music and dances, we will make Hotan and Xinjiang known in the world.

Next, let us see the video and learn more about the Xinyu Ensemble.

Hostess: Gratitude goes to Memettiwumeir Nigatti for his story. As a popular and well-known place online, the night market in Hotan becomes an essential stop and attracts tourists from all over the world with all kinds of special delicacies. With the help of the government, Kayisar Tursontohutti, who runs business in the night market of Hotan, has developed his business of yogurt zongzi and thus own branches inside and outside Xinjiang. By doing this, he not only popularized the special Hotan food, but also obtained a good life. Next let's invite Kayisar Tursontohutti, an operator of Hotan night market, to tell his story.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Kayisar Tursontohutti speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Kayisar Tursontohutti: I am Kayisar Tursontohutti from Hotan city. And now I am 26 years old. Now I am selling yogurt zongzi in the night market of Hotan.

As we all know, we usually eat zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival. But there is a difference in Hotan, because sweet and delicious zongzi can be found all year round. Moreover, Hotan zongzi boasts a unique flavor, it not only retains the taste of traditional zongzi, but also covered with different sugar syrup and mixed with yogurt. Sour and sweet, it tastes great! Besides, the yogurt zongzi is one of the "Four Major Cuisines" and "Two Specialties" of Hotan night market (The "Four Major Cuisines" refers to kebab, roast egg, roast vegetables, baked cake/ nang. And the "Two Specialties" refers to yogurt zongzi and traditional moon cake). Almost all tourists to Hotan will choose to taste the yoghurt zongzi.

I remember when I was in primary school, I always saw an uncle at the school gate, pushing a cart and selling yogurt zongzi every day. My friends and I would saved the pocket money given by parents and used it to buy yogurt zongzi. The sour, sweet and delicious yogurt zongzi are the best memories of my childhood. Then I learned from my father's friends to make yogurt zongzi since I like it so much.

After graduating from the polytechnic school in 2014, I found several jobs but they were not satisfying. Just then, I learned that Memetti Abdullah, my neighbor, was selling yogurt zongzi. With good workmanship and many customers, he could earn more than 4000 yuan a month running a small store. And I was surprised that a small zongzi store could make so much money! But it also gave me the idea of setting up a stall to sell yogurt zongzi. At first, I tried to make it at home, and invite my parents, neighbors and friends to taste it and give me advice. After constantly improving the practice of making zongzi and sugar syrup, I finally made the delicious yogurt zongzi with pure taste that praised by everyone, which gave me a lot of encouragement.

And then in 2015, I rented a stall in the night market of Hotan and tried to sell yogurt zongzi. With quality glutinous rice in the northeast China and Hotan jujubes, and coupled with self-made yogurt, honey and all kinds of sugar syrup, the zongzi tasted sour, sweet and delicious, which attracted many customers. In those years, I could earn more than 5000 yuan a month.

What is more, my love story with my wife also began with yogurt zongzi. I remember at that time, she often came to my stall to eat yogurt zongzi, saying that she had eaten all the yogurt zongzi in Hotan night market, and the yogurt zongzi I made was the purest and most delicious. Then she would come to the store every week to eat yogurt zongzi. Gradually, we got to know each other and became lovers. And soon in the year 2018, we got married.

Now more and more visitors from all over the country will come to Hotan for tourism. Tourists who eat our yogurt zongzi just cannot help praising, and encourage me to have branches in other places. Therefore, I began to think about promoting Hotan yogurt zongzi so that more people can taste this characteristic food. After discussing with my family, I and my partner opened another store in Urumqi in May this year to sell yogurt zongzi. The business is good and we can earn more than 10,000 yuan a month. Then, we opened chain stores in Tacheng, Bole, Altay, Xi'an, Qingdao and other cities.

Now, please have a look at the yogurt Zongzi I made.

Now my business is on the right track. And the business of my seven stores is running well. I also bought a house in Urumqi. In the future, I plan to open more chain stores all over the country so as to publicize yogurt zongzi together with other Hotan specialties, so that more people can taste the authentic food of Hotan, and thus learn more about Hotan and Xinjiang.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Kayisar Tursontohutti brings his yogurt zongzi and invites participants to have a taste at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Hostess: Thanks for Kayisar Tursontohutti’ s statement. Just now, ten speakers told us their own experiences. Now we would like to give the floor to your to communicate with them.

Hostess: The reporter in the middle of the first row, please.

Questioner: Thank you. I'm with People's Daily. In recent years, anti-China forces in the US and the West have fabricated the existence of "forced labor" in Xinjiang. Could you please talk about the real situation in Hotan prefecture? What specific measures have been taken in Hotan prefecture to solve the problem of employment and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities? Thanks!

Hostess : Thank you for your question. This question is for Gulinisahan Yimin, director of the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau of Hotan Prefecture.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Gulinisahan Yimin, director of the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau of Hotan Prefecture speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Gulinisahan Yimin: Hello, everyone. I’m Gulinisahan Yimin, the director of the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau of Hotan Prefecture.

For some time , anti-China forces in the US and the West have wantonly hyped up the issue of "forced labor" in Xinjiang, and wantonly hyped up and smeared the employment of Xinjiang. These false remarks are nothing but groundless and pure slanders. We strongly condemn and firmly oppose them! Now, I’ d like to introduce the employment situation in Hotan.

In recent years, Hotan has been implementing the national laws and regulations seriously, adhering to combining the laborer autonomous employment, market adjusting employment, the government promoting employment and entrepreneurship, insisting on combining local employment and orderly transfer of employment, and implementing various employment policies actively, ensuring that "every family has a way, and everyone has a job and monthly income" and striving to support and help people of all ethnic groups to achieve better quality employment. The first is to stimulate internal driving forces. Hotan set up majors, learned skills and determined the direction of employment on a voluntary basis, achieving a stable employment rate of more than 98%. The second is to promote local employment. Under the principle of voluntary employment, the ‘industry plus employment’ model was adopted, and employment distribution was established. As a result, more than 1.12 million people got jobs in their local areas, and their per capital income from labor services accounted for more than 35 percent of the per capital net income of farmers and herdsmen. For example, Butuersun Tuersun, Moyu County Kwak township farmer, engaged in special snacks at the door. He can earn 6,000 yuan every month, achieving employment increase income. The third is to encourage entrepreneurship to create more employment opportunities. Hotan encourages people to innovate and start businesses, offering policy support like subsidies for self-employment, entrepreneurship training, social insurance and so on. Since 2019, it has granted a total of 1.75 billion yuan in guaranteed loans for business startups, provided interest discount policies, and helped and supported 15,000 rural workers and people with employment difficulties in starting their own businesses, creating more than 60,000 jobs. For example, Kuerbanisa Ruzi, a farmer in Baishtograk Township, Luopu County, enjoyed a business discount loan of 150,000 yuan in April 2020, and opened an agricultural materials sales point, which led to the employment of 15 local people. The fourth is to widen employment channels. In consideration of the large demand for employment in other prefectures, Hotan has adopted market-oriented employment and enterprises have provided the opportunities. Many people have taken the initiative to go out for employment to improve their employment skills and earn more money. For example, Maititursun Isaar and his wife from Gulahema Town in Cele County worked in Urumqi city in 2018. They earned more than 12,000 yuan every month, and their average annual income reached nearly 150,000 yuan. With the hard work, they realize income increase and become rich..The fifth is to build employment service platform. Hotan makes full use of the public employment service networks and Wechat public platform, and sets up online and offline information service platforms. Counties and cities have the human resources market. All towns have established labor security offices. Villages have opened employment column, released employment information freely, and actively carried out the activity called "send policy, jobs, information and services". In the past five years, nearly 50,000 people with difficulty in finding jobs were helped to find jobs, and 1.1228 million employment services were provided annually.

Last but not least, what I want to say is that labor changes life and creates wealth. The policies and practices on labor and employment security for the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are in line with China's Constitution and laws. Where to go and what to do are their own choices. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have felt the happiness brought by employment and increased income. There is no such thing as "forced labor" hyped up by anti-China forces in the US and the West. The people of Xinjiang do have a voice for this.

That's all. Thank you.

Host: Thanks for your answer. Now, please continue your questions. The reporter in row two.

Reporter with China Daily: Thank you. I’ m with China Daily. In recent years, Hotan sheep industry has been successfully transformed and developed rapidly, and people of all ethnic groups are enjoying the dividends brought by the development of sheep industry. Could you please talk about the specific situation of the development of sheep industry in Hotan? Thank you.

Hostess: Thanks for your question. This question is for Yin Ruhong, the director of Hotan Rural Development Bureau.

Photo taken on August 30, 2021 shows Yin Ruhong, the director of Hotan Rural Development Bureau speaks at the Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Hotan. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Yin Ruhong:Hi, my friends, it is a great pleasure to meet you here. I’m Yin Ruhong, the director of Hotan Rural Development Bureau. Thanks for your long-term concern and support for agriculture and rural undertakings in Hotan!

In recent years, Hotan has made full use of the characteristics of arid desert climate, less environmental pollution and fewer diseases, combined with the living habits that farmers like raising sheep and eating mutton, and vigorously promoted the sustainable and rapid development of sheep industry. With the introduction of 12 leading enterprises and the development of 317 cooperatives, a whole industrial chain has been initially formed, integrating breeding, feeding, processing and sales. More than 10 million mutton sheep can be stored and marketed in the whole region annually. It is estimated that the total output value is 8.4 billion yuan and it increased the income of about 400,000 people. Relying on mutton sheep breeding, we have developed the industry, enabling farmers to find jobs nearby in the industrial chain of planting, breeding, slaughtering, processing, transporting and sales. Sheep industry has become an important pillar industry in Hotan to increase the income of farmers and herdsmen and promote agricultural and rural economic development.

On the one hand, we introduce leading enterprises to promote comprehensive optimizing and upgrading of mutton sheep industry. In 2018, we introduced Wanfeng Animal Husbandry Company to develop sheep industry, promoting standardized, large-scale and intensive development greatly. In 2020, 7 breeding bases were built, and more than 100,000 basic ewes were developed. In order to further extend the industrial chain and improve the value chain, Wanfeng Animal Husbandry Company invested 120 million yuan in 2020 to build a production line for slaughtering and intensively processing of 3 million mutton sheep, ending the history of mutton processing without segmentation in Hotan. A sheep can form more than 20 single products through Chinese cutting and Western cutting. After deep processing, haggis is sold to Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Chongqing and other places. Sliced mutton chops and other products are sold well all over the country, and the value of a sheep is more than three times that of traditional sales. Now, Wanfeng Animal Husbandry Company will build Zhaofeng Industrial Company to make up the short board of live sheep and forage material trading. By extending the industry chain, perfecting the sales chain, improving the value chain and sounding the guarantee chain, it will promote the overall optimization and upgrading of the mutton sheep industry in the whole region.

On the other hand, we have established mechanisms to help farmers continue to increase their incomes and get rich. By actively promoting the four-level structure system of "leading enterprises + cooperatives + households breeding with large-scale + basic farmers" and implementing the "Five unified" operation model, we have promoted the sheep industry to extend to villages and households. Enterprises (cooperatives) are closely linked with farmers' interests, driving farmers to continue to increase income. For example, Tursun Niazi Maitisdik, a farmer in Gulahama Town, Cele County, not only worked in Jin Ken Aoqun Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Co. LTD., with a monthly salary of 3500 yuan, but also bought 15 ewe on his own. The sheep gave birth to more than 20 lambs in less than a year. After 5 months, the sheep got fat and were sold more than 20,000 yuan, with a net profit of 10,000 yuan after deducting expenses such as feeding. Maimaitisha Awula, a farmer in Daxikule Village, Xiwule Township, Yutian County, participated in the "fast fattening" breeding mode of Jinken Animal Husbandry Co., LTD., received 90 lambs, raised them for more than 90 days and sold them to the enterprise, with a net profit of nearly 20,000 yuan after deducting feed expenses. The company led 15 breeding fields and 18 cooperatives to raise more than 50,000 mutton sheep in keriya county through the industrial development framework of "total field + branch field + cooperative + peasant household" ; nearly 300 people are employed in the main field and the sub-field, and their monthly salary is more than 2000 yuan; more than 8,000 farmers have developed the mutton sheep industry through "fast fattening" and "releasing mothers to lambing" models to realize that fattening a sheep adds 150-200 yuan and breeding a multi-embryo production ewe adds annual income of 500 yuan or so. It promotes the close connection between the interests of enterprises and farmers, and realizes the value-added of industries, improves the benefit of enterprises and increases peasants’ income.

That's all. Thank you.

Hostess: Thank you, Yin Ruhong.

Hostess: Today, Mahemutti Wumairjiang, Deputy Commissioner of Hotan Prefecture Office, introduced to us the economic and social development and the improvement of people's livelihood in Hotan Prefecture. Ten people from all over Hotan shared their happy life. People in charge of the relevant unit answered the journalists' questions and introduced to us the situation of labor employment and industrial development. They let us see an open, confident, and happy Hotan. Hotan is only one of the 14 prefectures in Xinjiang, and each prefecture has its own charm. Welcome to Xinjiang and experience the tremendous changes, feel the hospitality of the people of all ethnic groups, and witness the happy life of the people in Xinjiang.

That' s all for today' s press conference. Thank you all, speakers and friends from the media.