Xinjiang gets a helping hand to improve locals' livelihoods

Assistance projects to help the development of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region must focus on increasing employment and improving the quality of education, especially in less-developed southern Xinjiang, Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli said on Wednesday.

It has been five years since 2010, when the central government introduced the "pairing assistance" program, which requires 19 provinces and municipalities to support the development of different areas in Xinjiang.

The projects introduced by the provinces and municipalities must be based on people's real needs and increase efficiency in improving locals' livelihoods, Zhang said at the 5th National Work Conference on pairing assistance projects for Xinjiang, which was held in Beijing on Wednesday.