URUMQI, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Owning 200 mu (about 13.3 hectares) of cotton fields, Turehan Idires from Awat County, Aksu Prefecture, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a major cotton grower in her hometown.

Her family has had contracts with an agricultural machinery service cooperative, enabling the whole process from cotton planting to harvesting to be mechanized, which has significantly saved on costs and improved operating efficiency.

"Thanks to mechanization, we were able to save tens of thousands of yuan on cotton picking alone. Last year, cotton brought us about 200,000 yuan (about 29,820 U.S. dollars) in income," said Turehan Idires at a video conference on Thursday.

Jointly held by the regional government and the Chinese embassy in Tunisia, the conference aimed to show Xinjiang's social and economic development, with stories shared on how skills training and mechanization have brought prosperity to Xinjiang residents.

Attending the conference were Tunisian officials and representatives of Tunisian think tanks, the media and social groups.

During the video conference, 30-year-old Turhun Adil shared his experience in the pursuit of a better life through hard work. A resident of Pishan County, Hotan Prefecture, Turhun Adil was admitted to a chemical technician training institute to study mechatronics, and then went to work at a chemical company in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji after graduation.

"Having learned knowledge, mastered skills, made friends and got married, I am more than satisfied with my life now," Turhun Adil said, adding that he can earn more than 7,000 yuan a month.

Xinjiang has maintained social harmony and stability, accelerated high-quality economic development and improved people's living standards, said Nuram Ismayilhan, vice chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Nuram Ismayilhan said that the sense of gain, happiness and security is continually increasing among people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

"Historic achievements have been made in Xinjiang's human rights development," he said.