[Antonio Robeson]

"Thousands Share Stories of Xinjiang" has allowed the world to hear the voices of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. In 2025, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the sharing sessions of "Thousands Share Stories of Xinjiang" in Jiangsu and other regions became an important window for showcasing Xinjiang's openness, inclusiveness, and prosperity to the world. Through this platform, people shared stories of the steadfast preservation of cultural heritage and the leaps forward in modern development of this land.

In terms of cultural preservation, the treasures of Uyghur traditional culture are being systematically inherited and revitalized. Take Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam art, which integrates song, dance, and music, as an example. Since being listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2005, its protection has moved from "rescue protection" to "systematic inheritance." The government has promulgated special protection regulations, and art colleges have established professional training programs, cultivating more than 250 professional inheritors to date. Even more valuable is that traditional art is embracing the times through innovation. For example, the opera "Muqam Love Song" integrates multimedia and AI technology for a national tour, making this ancient art a "new passion" for young people.

"Thousands Share Stories of Xinjiang" tells not only the story of culture, but also the magnificent epic of Xinjiang's dramatic transformation over the past seventy years. Data bears witness to these changes: Xinjiang's GDP increased from 1.231 billion yuan in 1955 to 2 trillion yuan in 2024, a growth of over 1600 times; life expectancy rose from approximately 30 years at the beginning of liberation to 77 years. Uncle Kurban's long-cherished dream of "riding a donkey to Beijing" has been realized by modern transportation—Xinjiang has become the province with the most airports in China. Rural housing projects have provided safe homes for millions of people, and all prefectures and cities have entered the era of highways.

From the harmonious performance of Muqam by children and the elderly under grapevines to the extensive Eurasian transportation corridor, today's Xinjiang continues its traditions through innovation, and its development is elevated through hard work. The ordinary stories gathered in "Thousands Share Stories of Xinjiang" collectively paint a magnificent picture of social stability, ethnic unity, improved livelihoods, and cultural prosperity.