Xinjiang lauded for its efforts on opening-up

Foreign guests given opportunity to witness decision-making process

Foreign guests praised the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region's approach to opening-up and the Chinese path to democracy, after they were invited, for the first time, to attend the region's annual legislative and political advisory sessions.

"We're very grateful for the invitation. It's a good opportunity to learn about how the things are being done here responsibly by the Communist Party of China and the government," said Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, after attending the opening ceremony of the second session of the 13th Xinjiang Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on Monday morning in Urumqi, the regional capital.

"The session has given a very detailed account of each and every direction that Xinjiang is chalking out in its plan for this year, which includes economy, agriculture and other social uplift programs," he said.