President Xi Jinping has urged "thorough, meticulous, concrete and sustained" efforts to develop a beautiful Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region that is "united, harmonious, prosperous and culturally advanced, with healthy ecosystems and people living and working in contentment", in the process of pursuing Chinese modernization.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Saturday in Urumqi, the region's capital, when he was briefed by local officials about the work of the autonomous region's Party committee and government as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

Established in 1954, the corps combines the functions of production, administration and defense, and has made contributions to the development of Xinjiang by promoting unity among all ethnic groups, maintaining social stability and guarding the border areas.