China held a grand gathering on Thursday in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the autonomous region's founding.

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of the central delegation, attended the event and delivered a speech.

In his speech, Wang said that over the past 70 years, the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have achieved great successes in socialist revolution and development, and in reform and opening up, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

He noted that Xinjiang, together with the rest of the country, won the battle against poverty and completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, adding that ethnic unity in Xinjiang has been further consolidated, and the sense of community for the Chinese nation has been strengthened.

The achievements made by the autonomous region over the past seven decades have reflected the strengths of the Party's leadership and the socialist system, as well as the strong vitality of the correct and distinctively Chinese approach to handling ethnic affairs, Wang said.

Wang called for continued efforts to build a socialist modern Xinjiang that is characterized by unity, harmony, prosperity, affluence, cultural progress and a sound eco-environment, where people live and work in peace and contentment.

(With input from Xinhua)