BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is on the right track of rapid economic and social development.

It enjoys security, stability and prosperity, thanks to effective measures by the government and the solidarity of people of all ethnic groups.

Xinjiang is safer. In the past three years, not a single case of violent terrorist attack occurred in Xinjiang. People of all ethnic groups in the region have lived in harmony and peace.

Last year, Xinjiang received 150 million tourist visits, up more than 40 percent over the previous year. The figure is expected to reach 200 million in 2019.

Xinjiang is richer. In 2018, Xinjiang's gross domestic product topped 1.2 trillion yuan (about 174.7 billion U.S. dollars), up 6.1 percent from a year earlier. The per capita disposable income of its residents rose by 7.6 percent to a record high of 21,500 yuan.

Between 2014 and 2018, 2.3 million people in Xinjiang were lifted out of poverty.

At the end of 2016, there were 15,721 health institutions and 51,000 doctors in Xinjiang, higher than the national average.

Besides, freedom of religion, cultural rights and the right to use spoken and written languages of all ethnic groups are guaranteed by a host of measures.

The people in Xinjiang today are offered greater happiness and benefits. But the progress is not easy to realize.

Facts have proven that measures to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in Xinjiang are effective. China's ethnic policy has stood the test of time and brought peace and prosperity to Xinjiang.

China fully respects and protects human rights in Xinjiang. However, it has zero tolerance for any form of terrorism, extremism and separatist activities.

Based on what it has achieved, the region is expected to enjoy greater prosperity and progress in the future.