In order to thoroughly study and implement the guiding principles of President XI Jinping’s important speech during his inspection tour of Xinjiang, to further enhance the mechanism of assistance work, and jointly prepare talents for stabilizing the borderline and boosting the development of the region, on July 31^st, the 2022 Conference on Promoting the Work of Assistance to Xinjiang was held at the Xinjiang Institute of Engineering (hereinafter referred to as XJIE), Urumqi. Representatives from 11 universities including the University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Central South University, Chongqing University, and Yanshan University gathered at XJIE to discuss the assistance work in Xinjiang in the new era. They recalled friendships built during previous assistance and collaboration experiences and together made new plans for the mechanisms of assistance work and strategies for high-quality development and higher education enhancement in Xinjiang. Prof. Sun Jinghong, Vice Chancellor of USTB, attended the conference with other representatives from USTB, and, on behalf of the university, signed the Support Framework Agreement with XJIE.

At the Conference

Mr. LI Yuhong made a speech

At the conference, Mr. LI Yuhong, Chancellor of XJIE, said that the work of assistance to Xinjiang is part of the national strategy, and the support for education is an important part of the assistance mechanism. As one of the beneficiary institutes of the national educational aid program, XJIE has been boosted by the hard work of batches of talents coming to assist Xinjiang over the years, and they have contributed to the rapid development and growth of XJIE. Since 2008, a total of 50 people from 22 organizations have come to assist the institute. They, focusing on their work, being practical, and actively playing the role of bridging and linking their universities with XJIE, introduced high-quality resources and provided important support to the improvement of the overall level of education and teaching of the institute. XJIE at the same time also, taking the assistance resources as a starting point in the new period, firmly grasps the developmental opportunities, expands constantly the intellectual channels of Xinjiang receiving aid from other regions, explores new modes, and enhances the mechanisms of assistance work, comprehensively strengths close cooperation with partner universities, and serves with every effort for the regional economic and social development. XJIE will endeavor to promote the construction of a first-class university focusing on applied disciplines and strive to cultivate new generations of youth who love the country and Xinjiang, and who are dedicated and forge ahead for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Prof. Umarjan·Eli gave a themed report at the Conference

Prof. Umarjan·Eli, President of XJIE, made a theme report concerning the work of XJIE from two aspects: its history and mission, talent cultivation, and educational characteristics, and introduced its goals and tasks in the coming period.

Prof. SUN Jinghong gave a speech

Prof. Sun Jinghong, representing universities involved in paired assistance work, made a theme speech. He pointed out that the conference is an important reply to the guiding principles of President XI’s important speech in Xinjiang and the Central Symposium on Xinjiang Work in 2020. It is also an effort to implement the CPC Central Committee's decisions, and fully carry out the plans and the policies of the CPC for the governance of Xinjiang in the new era. Since 2008, USTB has sent multiple officials to assist the work of Xinjiang by taking provisional posts at XJIE. They have supported the growth and development of the institute by promoting the construction of disciplines and majors, carrying out cooperation in scientific research projects, innovating talent cultivation modes, and organizing faculties’ training outside Xinjiang. In October 2021, USTB, together with Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, have been set up as the paired assistance university to XJIE by the Ministry of Education.

In the next phase, USTB will promote the paired assistance work with a higher standard. Specifically, to make more USTB contributions for the overall improvement of XJIE, the assistance work will start from:

First, highlight the advantages as well as characteristics and position its first-class university goal to improve the discipline construction and scientific research level of XJIE; second, focus on the fundamental issues and cultivate first-class talents to effectively improve the quality of talent training and faculty construction level of XJIE; third, enhance the aid mechanism and ensure first-class achievements to truly make the paired assistance work into a project which can support regional development, national unity, and cohesion of the people.

Prof. SUN Jinghong and Mr. FENG Bo signed the Support Framework Agreement 

Representatives of the officials from the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the CPC in aid of Xinjiang and representatives from the doctoral service group, also participating in the assistance work in Xinjiang, have made speeches and shared views on further enhancing the work of assistance in Xinjiang and jointly preparing talents for the prosperity and security of the region at the conference. With representatives of officials and faculties involved in the assistance work to XJIE from the 11 universities and all members of the leadership of XJIE at the conference, Prof. SUN Jinghong and Mr. Feng Bo, Vice President of XJIE, signed the Support Framework Agreement on behalf of the two universities, opening a new chapter in all-round, multi-layer, and wide-ranging communication and cooperation between USTB and XJIE. 

 At the symposium 

Prof. SUN and other representatives visited Mr. LIU Bo, representative of the 10th batch of officials taking part in assistance work in Xinjiang and Deputy Director of Xinjiang Research Institute of Non-ferrous Metals (provisional post). They listened to his report on the work of assistance and learned more about his life in Xinjiang. Later they exchanged views with the ones in charge of the units receiving support on further enhancing the work of paired assistance.

Taking a visit to the Xinjiang Coal Industry Museum at XJIE

Members from USTB Party Committee Section, Office of the President, Office of Poverty Alleviation, Organization Department of the CPC, and Department of Human Resources, part of faculties from USTB School of Energy and Environmental Engineering and Research Institute of Macro-safety Science, and USTB officials sent to assist XJIE (taking provisional posts) attended the conference. Representatives of faculties from USTB School of Energy and Environmental Engineering and Research Institute of Macro-safety Science also went to XJIE School of Energy Engineering and School of Safety Science and Engineering for discussion and research visits. The two sides have in-depth exchanges and communications around cooperation issues such as the construction of disciplines, majors, and faculties, cultivation of innovative talents, strengthening scientific research cooperation and sending officials to take provisional posts.

Taking a visit to the new campus of XJIE 

After the conference, XJIE organized officials and faculties from assistance universities to take research visits and exchange views with enterprises at the new campus of XJIE, International Land Port of Urumqi, Zhundong Technological Innovation Park for Industry and Education Integration, and TBEA Co., Ltd.

Taking a visit to the Zhundong Technological Innovation Park

Draft: ZENG Bingjie

Revision: CHENG Mingyuan