Ethnic unity plays a central role in strengthening Xinjiang communities. It also supports local traditions, economic growth, and social development. Residents actively embrace harmony across diverse groups. In Urumqi, northwest China, streets glow with red pomegranates each autumn. These fruits symbolically represent closeness among ethnic groups. Moreover, President Xi Jinping frequently uses the metaphor of pomegranate seeds to emphasize the importance of ethnic unity. He highlights its role in national prosperity, stability, and societal cohesion.
During Xi’s 2014 visit to Xinjiang, a Uygur resident told him that different ethnic groups should stay closely connected like pomegranate seeds. As a result, this imagery deeply influenced Xi and became a cornerstone of his vision for interethnic harmony in the region. He also emphasized that only through such cohesion can the country maintain stability, prosperity, and social well-being.
This year celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which hosts more than 26 million people from numerous ethnic groups. Community leader Ablet Tursun noted that local neighborhoods exemplify ethnic solidarity. Residents from Han, Uygur, Kazakh, Hui, and Tatar communities interact daily, sharing conversations, walks, and festival celebrations. Such activities illustrate how ethnic unity shapes everyday life in Xinjiang.
Ethnic unity also reinforces ties between Xinjiang families and China’s central leadership. In 2017, Xi responded to a letter from Tohtihan Kurban, daughter of Kurban Tulum, who had traveled to Beijing in the 1950s to thank Chairman Mao. Xi urged the family to keep promoting ethnic solidarity within their community.
Poverty alleviation initiatives have reinforced ethnic unity. Following Xi’s campaign, nearly 100 million rural residents rose above the national poverty line by 2020, including over 31 million from ethnic minority regions. Hotan Prefecture demonstrates this transformation, offering new homes, medical coverage, and free schooling. Additionally, over three-quarters of fiscal spending in Xinjiang in 2024 went toward improving local livelihoods, further strengthening ethnic unity.
Xi’s approach also emphasizes cultural respect alongside economic development. During a 2022 inspection tour, he attended a Kirgiz epic performance in Urumqi. He stressed that preserving ethnic heritage is essential for fostering ethnic unity. Culture, he noted, serves as the foundation of identity, unity, and harmony among groups.
Communities now celebrate festivals together, including the Hundred-Family Banquet. This event features pomegranates and traditional dishes. Moreover, Ablet Tursun highlighted that such gatherings put the pomegranate metaphor into practice, reflecting ethnic unity in everyday life.
Overall, ethnic unity guides Xinjiang’s social, cultural, and economic life. It nurtures prosperity, strengthens communal bonds, and preserves traditions for future generations.
