China’s Xi Made Rare Visit to Xinjiang

Chinese President Xi Jinping This week made rare appearances in the troubled Xinjiang region, his first visit there in over eight years and his second trip in two weeks aimed at showing national unity after touring Hong Kong to extend his rule.

Early Friday, state-run media broadcast about 1 1/2 minutes of footage from China Central Television showing Mr. Xi at government offices, a museum, classrooms and a trade zone in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang. Mr Xi was greeted by musicians and dancers in costume traditionally worn by members of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority, an ethnic group targeted by what the US and other Western governments are calling a vast assimilation program.