Rukyan Memeturson, a sixth-grade pupil at a primary school in Tokkuzak, a township in Shufu county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, shows her classmates a group picture she took of President Xi Jinping during his visit to their school on April 28. Yao Tong / for China Daily

Rozi told Xi that he had been ill last year, incurring treatment costs of 18,000 yuan ($2,900), but that he had only had to pay 10 percent of the total because he's a member of a government-backed local health insurance program.

Abudulkeyoup earns a living by renting out four tractors to local farmers. The total cost of the tractors was 126,000 yuan. Abudulkeyoup paid 100,000 yuan, and the remainder came through government subsidies for agricultural machinery - another policy designed to help people in Xinjiang.

"I'm going to buy another tractor this year because more people said they need to use them," he said. "My goal now is to buy a car and take my father touring around China. Also, I want to see my son to go to university," he said, smiling. "Before Xi left he said he was pleased to see the family's high standard of living and wished us an even better life in the future. He said that's the government's goal."

Meeting 'Uncle Fruit'

Xi also paid a visit to a fruit industry park in Urumqi, operated by Xinjiang Fruit Industry Group, and tasted the dried fruit produced by local farmers.

"He really cares about how local farmers can raise their incomes through cooperation with the company," said Yuan Zhenting, the group's chairman, who accompanied Xi on his tour of the complex.

Xi apparently commented that apricots that dry naturally on the treetops have a special flavor and that dried dates from Ruoqiang county in Bayingolin Mongolian autonomous prefecture taste especially good.

Yuan said the company has signed contracts with more than 150,000 farmers across the region, and offers them the best prices so they can provide the best natural products.

"As Xi said, the company's interests are also the interests of local farmers. Now we have to better expand our sales channels and promote our products so both parties can gain greater benefits," Yuan said.

Xi showed an interest in "Uncle Fruit", a cartoon character sporting a traditional Uygur hat and flowing mustache, who represents the group's "West Orchard" brand on its online shop, a main sales channel for regional products to other areas of China.

"It's fun and children will like it," Xi said after viewing the cartoon figure at the company's e-commerce center. He added that fruit and related products are regional specialties and said he hopes to see better development of the resources. Also, he was pleased to see that the group has set a good example to boost business by creating an efficient logistics network via the Internet.

"Uncle Fruit has a pet dog called Maigelai, which means "come over" in the Uygur language. We want people to visit our website and taste the finest Xinjiang dried fruits, so the local farmers will earn more money," Yuan said.

The packaging of the group's products also carries cartoon figures based on Xinjiang's 13 different ethnic groups, which will help outsiders to learn more about the region's diverse culture, he added.

The group is now planning to expand into the Central Asian market. Addressing a group of officials from southern Xinjiang, Xi said the region is an irreplaceable link in the proposed Silk Road Economic Belt, and that the region's trade potential is huge.

Religious affairs

Xi also visited the 120-year-old Yanghang mosque in Urumqi, observing Islamic custom by taking off his shoes before entering the building. He sat with a group of religious leaders and listened to their views about regional issues.

"Xi was on an extremely tight schedule and his meeting with us shows that he understands the importance of religion here. His visit to one mosque means he is interested in all 24,000 in Xinjiang," Abudulrekep Tumniyaz, deputy director of Xinjiang Islamic Association and the dean of the Xinjiang Islamic Institute, said.