四、维稳戍边与促进民族团结

　　新疆陆地边境线漫长，戍守边防是国家赋予兵团的重要职责。兵团从组建开始，就是一支高度组织化的准军事力量。多年来，兵团坚持亦兵亦民、劳武结合、兵民合一，拥有一支数量足够、素质较高的民兵武装力量和兵团武警部队，一手拿枪，一手拿镐，与军队、武警和各族群众建立起边境安全联防体系，在维护国家统一和新疆社会稳定、打击暴力恐怖犯罪活动中发挥出特殊作用。

    兵团的边境团场是戍边的重要力量。兵团对边境团场实行团场包面、连队包片、民兵包点的生产与守边双承包责任制，实行兵团值班民兵连队与当地驻军、武警和地方民兵四位一体的军民联防机制，共同维护国家边防安全。按照国家的战略部署，兵团不断加强边境团场建设的力度。从2000年起，兵团在边境团场实施以危旧房改造、饮水、交通、文化、就医、电视广播、环境卫生等为重点的“金边工程”，发挥区位优势实施沿边对外开放，开展区域对外经贸、文化交流合作，进一步改善了职工群众的生产生活条件，增强了边境团场的凝聚力、吸引力，提升了边境团场戍边的综合实力。

IV. Safeguard the Frontier, Maintain Stability, and Promote Ethnic Unity

Xinjiang has a long border, and safeguarding it is the responsibility the state has entrusted to the XPCC. A highly organized paramilitary force since its founding, the XPCC has for many years shouldered both production and military duties, every member assuming the dual role of soldier and worker. The XPCC has strong militia and armed police forces whose members are capable of both combat and production. Together with the army groups, police force, and local residents of various ethnic groups of Xinjiang, the XPCC has built a strong border joint defense system. It has played a special role in safeguarding the country's unification and Xinjiang's social stability and in cracking down on violent terrorist crimes.

Frontier regimental farms are important forces in border security. The XPCC adopts the production and defense liability system, in which regimental farms take charge of entire areas, companies take charge of subareas, and individual militias are responsible for their own lots. The XPCC also sets up the "four-in-one" joint defense system, wherein stationed troops, armed police, local militias, and XPCC on-duty militias work together to safeguard China's border security. The XPCC has constantly strengthened frontier regimental farms in accordance with China's strategic deployment. Since 2000 the XPCC has carried out the "Jinbian Project," which focuses on improving drinking water, transportation, medical services, broadcast networks, the environment and sanitation, promoting culture, and renovating dilapidated houses. It has made full use of geographical advantages to open up border areas and promote foreign trade and cultural exchanges. It has also improved local residents' working and living conditions, and increased the solidarity, attractiveness, and overall strength of border regimental farms.