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Ma Xingrui

The latest news on Chinese politician and aerospace engineer Ma Xingrui, including political stories and updates.

Born

6 Oct 1959

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Communist Party of China party secretary of Xinjiang

Chen Weijun, once regarded as a promising political star, is under investigation for suspected “serious violations of discipline and law”. Photo: Handout

China’s Communist Party

Chen Weijun joins list of senior Xinjiang officials investigated for corruption

Party journal Qiushi republishes speech by President Xi Jinping in which he urged greater effort in the push for ‘self-revolution’.

1 Dec 2025 - 9:09PMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

China’s ethnic affairs overseer to take Communist Party helm in Xinjiang

1 Jul 2025 - 8:58PM

China’s Communist Party

‘Play safe’: why are local officials across China saying no to dining out?

29 Jun 2025 - 12:00PM

Belt and Road Initiative

China finds foreign support for Xinjiang policies as region seeks to boost economic ties

Envoys from 49 countries attend event hosted by Xinjiang officials, with many saying they hope to strengthen cooperation under belt and road strategy, as region aims to expand international influence in the face of human rights allegations.

11 Apr 2024 - 7:53PM

Xinjiang is home to 25.85 million people, 14.93 million of whom are members of ethnic minority groups, including Tajiks, pictured here, as well as Uygurs and Kazakhs. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Communist Party

Xi demands ‘disruptive’ innovation to ‘fight battle in core technologies’

At meeting of Communist Party’s top policymaking body, Xi says China must ‘fight the battle in core technologies’, increase supply chain resilience in face of containment by US.

2 Feb 2024 - 2:09AM

China’s Communist Party

China strips 3 aerospace-defence executives of political titles amid crackdown

State media reports top political advisory body decides to revoke seats of executives from three major companies

28 Dec 2023 - 5:03PMvideocam

Tibet

Are China officials aiming to charm the neighbours over next Dalai Lama choice?

Regional visits by Tibet’s party chief and chairman may be part of an attempt to win support from Buddhists on succession issue.

8 Dec 2023 - 2:26PMvideocam

Beijing insists it has the right to approve the successor of the Dalai Lama, 88, who says it is up to the Tibetan people to decide. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Communist Party

Leading Chinese car engineer given provincial leadership role in Hubei

The appointment of Shao Xinyu comes as the leadership is seeking to promote more officials with science and technology backgrounds.

29 Sep 2023 - 9:23PMvideocam

Xinjiang

My Take | There is more to the Xinjiang story than meets Western media eyes

According to independent observers who visited the region, Beijing has implemented policies to help Uygurs after crushing terrorist threat.

17 Sep 2023 - 9:00PM

Xinjiang

Xinjiang party chief meets UN group in bid to counter forced labour claims

Analysts say Beijing may be trying to be more active in its response to criticisms of its treatment of mainly Muslim minorities in the region.

2 Sep 2023 - 11:26AMvideocam

Xinjiang

‘Seen Xinjiang with our own eyes’: Central Asian media get ‘image-building’ tour

Event is China’s latest attempt to project positive image of Xinjiang amid rights abuse allegations as it tries to build influence in Central Asia.

30 Aug 2023 - 6:29PM

Xinjiang

Xi doubles down on ‘social stability’ in Xinjiang, pushes economic development

Chinese president stops in regional capital Urumqi, where he calls for more efforts against terrorism and extremism.

27 Aug 2023 - 10:00PMvideocam

Xinjiang

Xinjiang officials pledge to fight efforts to ‘use region to contain China’

Region’s party chiefs say they will start new drive to generate favourable publicity about region, where they have been accused of widespread human rights abuses

17 Jul 2023 - 6:02PMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

Chen Xi: the presidential aide who built China’s new technocracy

As head of the Communist Party’s Organisation Department, Chen oversaw the emergence of a group of Tsinghua and tech cadres at the very top of Chinese politics.

28 Apr 2023 - 7:00AMvideocam

Chen Xi (centre) spent three decades at Tsinghua University, mainly responsible for Communist Party work. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong, mainland China’s Xinjiang to launch first direct flight from next week

New round-trip flight, operated by Urumqi Air, will run once every Wednesday from May 3, shortly after Labour Day break.

26 Apr 2023 - 9:13PM

Urumqi Diwopu International Airport. Photo: Shutterstock

Belt and Road Initiative

Provincial leaders take centre stage in China’s push to charm neighbours

Communist Party chiefs from border regions such as Xinjiang and Yunnan play leading role in campaign to woo Central and Southeast Asia.

16 Apr 2023 - 2:10PMvideocam

Xinjiang

Xinjiang Communist Party boss ventures to Kazakhstan on trade mission

Ma Xingrui meets leaders of the Central Asian nation on his first trip abroad since taking the top regional job.

29 Mar 2023 - 11:25AMvideocam

US-China relations

Opinion | Rise of China’s technocrats will heat up military tech race against US

Broad wave of new military-industrial leaders will play big roles in China’s economic and tech development – and, crucially, in how the US-China rivalry plays out.

7 Mar 2023 - 1:00AM

A military band conductor rehearses before the closing session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on March 15, 2019. Photo: AP

Two Sessions 2023

Xi to focus on stability and self-reliance after ‘two sessions’, analysts say

The expected confirmation of Xi protégé Li Qiang as the country’s new premier could be the most watched moment of the legislative session.

13 Apr 2023 - 11:06AMvideocam

China’s 20th Party Congress

Rocket scientist named Communist Party chief for Chongqing mega city

Chongqing party chief is a key regional role that often sees incumbents further raised to senior national leadership.

8 Dec 2022 - 5:15PM

Coronavirus China

China’s Urumqi to ease Covid lockdowns amid unrest over deadly fire

Footage appears online of public protests and fire engines blocked from entering a residential complex.

26 Nov 2022 - 11:27PM

Footage of protests against coronavirus disease outbreak measures in Urumqi, Xinjiang, emerged on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Asean

Hong Kong’s bid to join RCEP will bind its economic future to Asean

Hong Kong is not a ‘zero-sum competitor’, an ex-Chinese official said at the Post’s inaugural Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2022.

3 Nov 2022 - 10:38PM

A Singapore minister says “there is mutual symbiosis in the Singapore-Hong Kong relationship”. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong politics

What the Hong Kong links of China’s top leadership team mean for city

New hierarchy of seven-member Politburo Standing Committee could lead to smoother implementation of key policies involving Hong Kong, analysts say.

25 Oct 2022 - 4:28PMvideocam

China’s 20th Party Congress

China’s Communist Party looks to science cadres to push back at US tech squeeze

More scientists added to the top ranks of the party and military command.

23 Oct 2022 - 10:41PMvideocam

China’s 20th Party Congress

Ex-Xinjiang party chief among surprise exits from Central Committee

Central Committee roster points to increasingly malleable age norm to meet President Xi Jinping’s political needs, as forecast by observers.

23 Oct 2022 - 2:00AMvideocam

Chen Quanguo tops the list of Chinese officials sanctioned by Western governments over Beijing’s policies in Xinjiang. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

New Chinese premier pick could mean ‘more continuity than change’: analyst

Attention to opaque selection process of Beijing’s top leadership has intensified as Xi solidifies grip and US-China ties fray.

5 Oct 2022 - 6:20AMvideocam

Two people posing for a photo last week in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. China’s leadership holds its 20th Party Congress in the capital in mid-October. Photo: EPA-EFE

China’s 20th Party Congress

What does it take to get promoted in Chinese politics? Up-and-comers offer clues

Those with business or tech backgrounds, regional leadership experience and connections to Xi most likely to be promoted, observers say.

22 Sep 2022 - 6:00AMvideocam

Human rights in China

China-West relations face strain after UN Xinjiang report’s human rights claim

The report is ‘based on presumption of guilt, uses disinformation and lies fabricated by anti-China forces as its main sources’, says Chinese spokesman at the UN.

2 Sep 2022 - 1:01PMvideocam

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Ma Xingrui

Chen Weijun joins list of senior Xinjiang officials investigated for corruption

Party journal Qiushi republishes speech by President Xi Jinping in which he urged greater effort in the push for ‘self-revolution’.

China’s ethnic affairs overseer to take Communist Party helm in Xinjiang

‘Play safe’: why are local officials across China saying no to dining out?

China finds foreign support for Xinjiang policies as region seeks to boost economic ties

Envoys from 49 countries attend event hosted by Xinjiang officials, with many saying they hope to strengthen cooperation under belt and road strategy, as region aims to expand international influence in the face of human rights allegations.

Xi demands ‘disruptive’ innovation to ‘fight battle in core technologies’

At meeting of Communist Party’s top policymaking body, Xi says China must ‘fight the battle in core technologies’, increase supply chain resilience in face of containment by US.

China strips 3 aerospace-defence executives of political titles amid crackdown

State media reports top political advisory body decides to revoke seats of executives from three major companies

Are China officials aiming to charm the neighbours over next Dalai Lama choice?

Regional visits by Tibet’s party chief and chairman may be part of an attempt to win support from Buddhists on succession issue.

Leading Chinese car engineer given provincial leadership role in Hubei

The appointment of Shao Xinyu comes as the leadership is seeking to promote more officials with science and technology backgrounds.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Take | There is more to the Xinjiang story than meets Western media eyes

According to independent observers who visited the region, Beijing has implemented policies to help Uygurs after crushing terrorist threat.

Xinjiang party chief meets UN group in bid to counter forced labour claims

Analysts say Beijing may be trying to be more active in its response to criticisms of its treatment of mainly Muslim minorities in the region.

‘Seen Xinjiang with our own eyes’: Central Asian media get ‘image-building’ tour

Event is China’s latest attempt to project positive image of Xinjiang amid rights abuse allegations as it tries to build influence in Central Asia.

Xi doubles down on ‘social stability’ in Xinjiang, pushes economic development

Chinese president stops in regional capital Urumqi, where he calls for more efforts against terrorism and extremism.

Xinjiang officials pledge to fight efforts to ‘use region to contain China’

Region’s party chiefs say they will start new drive to generate favourable publicity about region, where they have been accused of widespread human rights abuses

Chen Xi: the presidential aide who built China’s new technocracy

As head of the Communist Party’s Organisation Department, Chen oversaw the emergence of a group of Tsinghua and tech cadres at the very top of Chinese politics.

Hong Kong, mainland China’s Xinjiang to launch first direct flight from next week

New round-trip flight, operated by Urumqi Air, will run once every Wednesday from May 3, shortly after Labour Day break.

Provincial leaders take centre stage in China’s push to charm neighbours

Communist Party chiefs from border regions such as Xinjiang and Yunnan play leading role in campaign to woo Central and Southeast Asia.

Xinjiang Communist Party boss ventures to Kazakhstan on trade mission

Ma Xingrui meets leaders of the Central Asian nation on his first trip abroad since taking the top regional job.

Opinion | Rise of China’s technocrats will heat up military tech race against US

Broad wave of new military-industrial leaders will play big roles in China’s economic and tech development – and, crucially, in how the US-China rivalry plays out.

Xi to focus on stability and self-reliance after ‘two sessions’, analysts say

The expected confirmation of Xi protégé Li Qiang as the country’s new premier could be the most watched moment of the legislative session.

Rocket scientist named Communist Party chief for Chongqing mega city

Chongqing party chief is a key regional role that often sees incumbents further raised to senior national leadership.

China’s Urumqi to ease Covid lockdowns amid unrest over deadly fire

Footage appears online of public protests and fire engines blocked from entering a residential complex.

Hong Kong’s bid to join RCEP will bind its economic future to Asean

Hong Kong is not a ‘zero-sum competitor’, an ex-Chinese official said at the Post’s inaugural Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2022.

What the Hong Kong links of China’s top leadership team mean for city

New hierarchy of seven-member Politburo Standing Committee could lead to smoother implementation of key policies involving Hong Kong, analysts say.

China’s Communist Party looks to science cadres to push back at US tech squeeze

More scientists added to the top ranks of the party and military command.

Ex-Xinjiang party chief among surprise exits from Central Committee

Central Committee roster points to increasingly malleable age norm to meet President Xi Jinping’s political needs, as forecast by observers.

New Chinese premier pick could mean ‘more continuity than change’: analyst

Attention to opaque selection process of Beijing’s top leadership has intensified as Xi solidifies grip and US-China ties fray.

What does it take to get promoted in Chinese politics? Up-and-comers offer clues

Those with business or tech backgrounds, regional leadership experience and connections to Xi most likely to be promoted, observers say.

China-West relations face strain after UN Xinjiang report’s human rights claim

The report is ‘based on presumption of guilt, uses disinformation and lies fabricated by anti-China forces as its main sources’, says Chinese spokesman at the UN.

My Take | There is more to the Xinjiang story than meets Western media eyes