Exercising democratic rights

All ethnic groups in Xinjiang enjoy equal social status and jointly participate in State affairs. The 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, which held its annual session earlier this month, has 61 deputies from Xinjiang, including members of the Uygur, Kazak and Hui ethnic groups, said Xu Guixiang, a spokesman for the regional government. He added that the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference includes 34 political advisers from Xinjiang.

Wurnisar Kadeer, an NPC deputy from the Uygur ethnic group, said her hometown of Turpan is Xinjiang's largest grape producing area and home to China's largest grape cultivation area.

In recent years, Wurnisar Kadeer, who works at a service center that promotes technologies in the forestry and fruit industry, has put forward many suggestions to the NPC related to environmental protection for local oases and the construction of a logistics and distribution center for dried fruit.

"They have received timely responses. This is my right as a deputy from the Uygur group to exercise my political rights and participate in politics and democratic supervision," she said.

"I'm happy that nearly 40 percent of farmers' incomes in the city comes from the grape industry－including grapes, raisins and wine－and the business is a pillar industry to raise incomes."

Yirzat Zadar, a member of the 13th CPPCC National Committee and deputy director of the Xinjiang health commission, prepared a number of proposals for this year's two sessions.

He said he hopes government at all levels will raise investment to provide more qualified physicians at the village level so people in rural areas can enjoy quality medical treatment.

"The CPPCC is a great creation of China's political system that safeguards the political rights of citizens, enabling people from all ethnic groups and walks of life to fully exercise their right to participate in politics," he said.