China’s Only Salar Autonomous County Celebrates 70th Anniversary

Xunhua, Qinghai Province, August 29, 2024 – Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, the only county in China exclusively for the Salar ethnic group, celebrated its 70th anniversaryon Tuesday, marking a milestone in the region’s development and a testament to China’s ethnic policy.

The celebration, attended by local residents andofficials from across the country, highlighted the county’s progress in various fields, including economic development, ecological preservation, and social harmony.

The 70-year development journey of Xunhua is a typical epitome of the superiorityof our Party’s ethnic policy, a successful practice of China’s ethnic regional autonomy system, and a vivid portrayal of the harmonious coexistence, unity, and harmonious development of people of all ethnic groups, said Li Jinhui, arepresentative of the National People’s Congress Ethnic Affairs Committee and Director of the Research Office of the National People’s Congress Ethnic Affairs Committee, while reading a congratulatory message from the committee.

Established in 1954, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County is not only the only county in China dedicated to theSalar people but also the origin of the ethnic group. It is also designated as one of the key areas for the development of minority groups by the State Council. Spanning 2,100 square kilometers, the county boasts a population of 161,600.

The celebratory event sawperformances by local residents, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Salar people.

Wu Dejun, Secretary-General of the Qinghai Provincial Party, Government, and Military Delegation, Deputy Director of the Provincial United Front Work Department, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission, and Directorof the Commission, read a congratulatory letter from the Communist Party of China Qinghai Provincial Committee, the Standing Committee of the Qinghai Provincial People’s Congress, the Qinghai Provincial People’s Government, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Qinghai Provincial Committee, and the Qinghai Provincial Military District.

The letter commended the county’s achievements over the past seven decades, acknowledging the efforts of the local government and residents in achieving economic growth, ecological improvement, social well-being, ethnic unity, social stability, and strengthened party building.

Peng Feng, Head of the National People’s Congress Ethnic Affairs Committee andNational Ethnic Affairs Commission Congratulatory Group and Deputy Director of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission Public Opinion Center, extended his heartfelt greetings to the county’s officials and residents.

We have comprehensively promoted economic, political, cultural, social, ecological civilization construction, and party building, and have achieved historic achievements, said CaoLiangtai, Secretary of the Xunhua County Party Committee. He highlighted the county’s progress in infrastructure development, including the construction of highways and bridges, which have significantly improved connectivity and facilitated economic growth.

Cao also emphasized the success of the county’s efforts in poverty alleviation, with 1,934 households and 7,950 individuals lifted out of poverty. Additionally, the county provided safe housing for 13,084 households affected by natural disasters, ensuring the well-being of its residents.

Over the past 70 years, Xunhua’s economy has witnessed remarkable growth.Its gross domestic product (GDP) has increased from 2.4 million yuan in 1954 to 4.1 billion yuan in 2024, a 551-fold increase. The county’s urban area has expanded from 0.5 square kilometers to 7.8 square kilometers, a 16-fold increase. The per capita disposable income of rural residents has reached 15,831 yuan, marking a 92.7-fold increase since records began.

The county has also made significant strides in environmental protection. The water quality of the Yellow River, which flows through the county, has consistently remained at Class II or above, while the proportion of days with good air quality has reached 92%. The county has established ecological parks, including the Bolangtan Ecological Park and the Qingshuiwan Theme Park, and has increased its forest coverage to 46.28%, creating a beautiful and sustainable environment.

The 70th anniversary celebration of Xunhua Salar Autonomous County serves as a testament to the success of China’s ethnic policy and its commitment to promoting ethnic unity and development. The county’s achievements in economic development, social progress, and ecological preservationoffer a model for other regions in China and beyond.

【source】http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2024/08-29/10276836.shtml