The central government's decision to crack down on terrorists and improve livelihoods in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will help bring security and prosperity, residents and analysts said.
Â
Urumqi resident Zhao Jiepei, 28, mother of a 3-year-old boy, is confident the measures can help. "I think everyone like me wants their children to live in a stable and developed society," she said.
Â
Adiljan Ablat, a professor of politics and public management at Xinjiang University, said, "The separatists, who seek independence for a so-called Eastern Turkestan, believe that once they gradually influence young people, they can achieve their goal of separating from China."
Â
Ma Pinyan, a senior anti-terrorism researcher in Xinjiang, praised the government's efforts to make employment the top priority in improving livelihoods, including helping at least one person in unemployed families.
Â
"If young people have jobs and better educational quality, they will live better lives and have the ability to distinguish what is bad," he said.
Â
This year, the regional government has earmarked 900 million CNY (150 million USD) to support 195 programs covering ethnic handicrafts, farm produce, Uygur medicine and the clothing industry.
Â
A statement from a meeting of China's top leaders on Monday said stability in Xinjiang is strategically vital to China's reform and development as well as national security.
Â
To achieve security and development in the region, the government promised to vigorously fight terrorism and religious extremism and to improve livelihoods and the region's economy.
Â
An attack on Thursday at a morning market in Urumqi, the regional capital, left 39 innocent victims dead and 94 injured.
Â
On Monday, police in the region captured a five-member terrorist group in Hotan and discovered 1.8 metric tons of materials for explosive devices, the regional information office said.
Â
Police said the group, led by Abuliz Dawut, planned to carry out a terror attack in Hotan similar to that in Urumqi.
Â
Li Wei, an anti-terrorism researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the East Turkestan Islamic Movement was increasing its influence in Xinjiang through frequent terrorist attacks in the region.
Â
"The terrorist activities must be suppressed with great efforts," he said. "But it will take time."
Â
The local disciplinary body has punished 65 officials who have not effectively carried out anti-terror policies since 2013.Â