International friends exchange firsthand accounts of social governance and livelihood improvements in Xinjiang

Shiliuyun -Xinjiang Daily (Reporters: Guo Ling and Dong Xiaoyan) news: On September 8, 2026, at the "Social Governance and Public Wellbeing Improvement" thematic session of the Xinjiang Friendship and Exchange Conference with Distinguished International Guests, Mahdi Borhani Zarandi, an Iranian scholar, presented a 12-slide PowerPoint showcasing his family's daily life, work moments, his children's school activities, and scenes from their travels across Xinjiang. Speaking from the perspective of a resident and drawing on his personal experiences of living in Urumqi, capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, he told the Chinese and international audience about the Xinjiang he witnessed with his own eyes.

Mahdi is an Iranian expert at the Joint International Laboratory for the Prevention and Control of Major Diseases in Central Asia, affiliated with Xinjiang Medical University. He came to Xinjiang in 2024, and his family of four now lives and works happily in Urumqi. He said that his children are growing up joyfully in this vibrant city. The inclusiveness and warmth here have given his family a real sense of belonging. He stressed that his family's firsthand experiences prove that the real Xinjiang is socially stable, full of vitality and hope — and that this is the most powerful testament to the effectiveness of China's social governance.

Photo taken on September 8, 2026 shows a scene from the "Social Governance and Public Wellbeing Improvement" thematic session of the Xinjiang Friendship and Exchange Conference with Distinguished International Guests. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Guo Ling)

At the session, guests shared their observations and experiences in Xinjiang, engaging in discussions on social governance, urban development, and livelihood improvement. How to translate the "livelihood checklist" into a "happiness checklist" became a shared focus of reflection. Scholars and journalists from various countries also offered their own perspectives.

For Eugene Doyle, founder and editor of the New Zealand independent news outlet Solidarity, the key to measuring the impact of social governance on people's livelihoods lies in whether the fruits of development benefit the entire population. He noted that the core of social governance and livelihood improvement is to encourage the collective participation of all members of society, so that a better life is accessible to everyone — not just a privileged few. This, he said, is precisely the reality unfolding in Xinjiang.

Giray Fidan, the professor and sinologist at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University in Türkiye, exclaimed that wherever she goes, from cities to small towns in Xinjiang, everything is clean, orderly, and well-maintained, and the streets are spotless, public spaces are carefully tended, and daily life runs smoothly. These simple things touch her a lot. He observed that cleanliness, tranquility, and a sense of security often go hand in hand, and in Xinjiang these impressions are especially pronounced. She particularly mentioned a scene she witnessed in Kashi — a family from another Chinese province posing for photos in traditional ethnic costumes, with the children striking various adorable poses. She can feel the cultures of all ethnic groups are highly valued across China, and these well-protected cultural traditions also bring tangible income to local people who preserve them.

As a media professional who visited Xinjiang every year, Alevtina Donskikh, deputy editor-in-chief at Delovoy, Kazakhstan, has repeatedly captured new changes here — whether in environmental improvements, urban renewal, people's daily lives, or the overall social atmosphere — each time offering fresh impressions. What impressed her most is Xinjiang's social landscape of multi-ethnic harmony and coexistence. She said she once saw in Yining City that people could effortlessly switch from one language to another and understand each other perfectly, living together in harmony.

Adhering to the journalistic principle of "seeing is believing," Malika Galiyeva, editor-in-chief at Liter, Kazakhstan, remarked that for any journalist, witnessing things firsthand is the most valuable opportunity; the journalistic profession does not allow them to draw conclusions out of thin air. She expressed sincere gratitude for China's open attitude, which has provided journalists from various countries with a platform to enter Xinjiang, conduct on-the-ground visits, and engage in open exchanges. In her view, this thematic exchange was not only a collision of ideas but also a bridge of mutual understanding and friendship — enabling the world to see, through the authentic and vibrant example of Xinjiang, the practical results of grassroots governance and the human warmth behind livelihood improvements.

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