NPC deputy calls draft ethnic unity law a 'foundational guide' for Xinjiang's cultural workers

A draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress has been submitted to the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress for deliberation, which runs through Thursday.

For NPC deputy Zoya Baqit, a staff member at the Altay Regional Museum in Altay prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the proposed law will serve as a foundational guide for cultural workers and heritage conservationists in the region.

"Preserving and promoting cultural heritage helps reveal the historical process of interactions, exchanges, and integration among different ethnic groups, a process that has continued uninterrupted since ancient times," she said.

Zoya Baqit emphasized the importance of the upcoming law's effective implementation to benefit all ethnic groups and guide heritage conservation efforts, through which they can further uncover historical evidence of ethnic interactions and integration.

Her own childhood reflects this reality. Growing up in Altay city, home to 33 ethnic groups, Zoya Baqit, who is Kazakh herself, lived in a community shared by Uygur, Xibe, and Han neighbors. "We celebrated each other's festivals, visited one another, and shared traditional food," she recalled.

Born in 1989, Zoya Baqit witnessed rapid urban development in Altay, from the opening of the city's first beef noodle restaurant to its first barbecue stand.

"I grew up experiencing Xinjiang's development and opening-up, and I've become a contributor to my hometown's further growth," she said. "Xinjiang has become more open, inclusive, and confident, presenting a more multidimensional image. By promoting Xinjiang's history and diverse culture, we aim to help people form a more comprehensive and clear understanding of the region."