Construction Corps Leads War on Poverty

Military-style organization drives growth in Xinjiang

Over the course of its 58-year history, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps has made unprecedented progress in agricultural development, tourism, urbanization, industrialization and fostering new links between the region and the outside world.

The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is a unique economic and government entity organized in a quasi-military fashion to carry out development projects in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Since its establishment in 1954, the organization's various branches have settled down along the edges of the Taklimakan and Gurbantunggut deserts, borderlands and other areas with harsh environments in all parts of Xinjiang.

The branches of the corps are organized into military-style units, such as divisions and regiments, and they have been instrumental in the construction of water conservation projects and land reclamation. The corps has helped build one oasis after another in the deserts, creating a unique and beneficial ecological system.

The corps has also developed a comprehensive industrial system, including light industry, textiles, iron and steel, coal mining, building materials and machinery manufacturing.

Meanwhile, a social system covering education, healthcare, science and culture has been formed under the framework of the corps.

According to the latest statistics, the corps has a total membership of 2.61 million in its 14 divisions and 175 regiment farms. There are 4,000 companies in various fields in the corps, 69 of which are flagship enterprises in agro-industrialization at the county and provincial levels.

The national-level Shihezi Economic and Technological Development Zone and Shihezi High-Tech Agriculture Park are also part of the corps.

The corps operates 548 schools, nearly 200 broadcasting entities and more than 30 publishing organs as well as more than 1,300 clinics and hospitals.

Urban construction

The corps is contributing to the urbanization process in Xinjiang by developing residential and industrial facilities in its 10 cities and 160 townships as well as 400 residential communities in so-called company farms.

The cities of Shihezi, Wujiaqu, Alar, Tumushuke and another 38 towns are the key targets for urbanization.

In addition, the corps has also made great strides to improve urban facilities in smaller towns and seats of "regiment" farms.

According to plans, 50 percent of the areas managed by the corps will be urbanized, providing more employment opportunities for locals.

The areas managed by the corps are rich in land, agriculture and mineral resources.

The corps is now focusing on building development zones and fostering entrepreneurship to make rational use of resources for industrial development and to promote famous brands and quality products.

In addition to the national-level zones in Shihezi, the corps is pushing forward the construction of industrial parks throughout Xinjiang, including special economic development zones in Kashgar and Khorgos.

Xinjiang is a place where one of the world's best cotton varieties grows. The corps is taking advantage of this by building one of the nation's largest bases for cotton processing and exports.

The corps is also planning to build another six bases for processing key farm products, including vegetables, fruit, milk and meat. They are expected to be complete by 2015.

The corps is also nurturing and developing a batch of emerging industries of strategic importance, including biological technology, new materials, alternative energy and information technology, to ensure that economic development in Xinjiang remains sustainable.