Participating Actively in the Socialist Construction of “Two Civilizations”
Guided and motivated by the China Islamic Association and local Islamic associations throughout China, Islamic dignitaries and the Muslim masses have been active in the socialist construction for modernization since the 1980"s, and made great contributions to the development of the state economy. And in the mean time governments and departments at all levels pay much attention to fostering Muslim professionals. In the last 20 years, the literacy rate of Chinese Muslims has continued to rise. At present, there are 21 colleges and universities with 30,000 students in Xinjiang, and 7 colleges with nearly 10,000 students in Ningxia, of which Muslim students account for a considerable percentage. There are a great number of Muslims working in various fields such as high technology, industry, agriculture, education and medicine.
Muslims in Beijing have advantage in developing the third industry - individual commerce and township enterprises.
Muslims in the Northwest have achieved considerable development in food and other growing industries such as clothing, embroidery, food processing, flock and herd breeding, transportation, electrical equipment, tourism and real estate, and certain products of theirs have entered the international market. They also take advantage of their friendly contacts with Arab Islamic countries to develop foreign trade, open markets in Western and Central Asia, and attract foreigners to travel and invest in China to improve the development of the economy and culture in ethnic regions.
As the state economy and Muslims‘ living standard continue to develop, Islamic dignitaries and the Muslims masses have shown unprecedented enthusiasm towards the construction of a socialist spiritual civilization.
Since the reform and the policy of opening up to the outside world were put into practice in 1987, there have been a considerable number of Muslims representatives from minority groups working in government, the people"s congress and the political consultative conference at all levels, discussing state matters, participating in the administering and supervising of state affairs along with representatives elected by the people of all ethnicities throughout the country. Vice chairman of the NationalPeople"s Congress of China Tiemu"er Dawumaiti, state councilor Simayi Aimaiti, vice chair of the Chinese People"s Political Consultative Conference Bai Lichen all are Muslim. Statistics shows that there are 101 Muslims among the representatives of the National People"s Congress and 64 among the members of the Chinese People"s Political Consultative Conference.
Due to correct and comprehensive implementation of the policies on religion and ethnic affairs and education aimed at promoting patriotism and against ethnic separatism and religious extremism, unity among the ethnic groups and Islamic sects has improved a great deal. Many mosques and Imams were chosenas “Model Mosque” or “Model Imam”? The China Islamic Association chose through public appraisal 100 mosques as “Model Mosques”, it has motivated Islamic circles throughout the country to make more of a contribution to the construction of the two socialist civilizations.