Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps

Source: [http://www.bingtuan.gov.cn/gaikuang/f_filelist_v.asp?p_index=251020&p_id=1644]

The Eighth Division is the most populous division, with a population of 579,300 (2002).

Economy

The XPCC is currently focused on economic development as its stated primary goal. With the continued opening up of the economy, the XPCC has created many publicly traded subsidiary companies involved in the production and sale of a variety of products. When involved in such economic activities, the XPCC uses the name "China Xinjian Group".

The primary economic activity of the XPCC remains agriculture, including cotton, fruit, vegetables, food crops, vegetable oils, sugar beets, and so forth. Important products are cotton, tomatoes, ketchup, Korla pears, Turpan grapes, wine, and so forth. The XPCC has a mix of factory farming and smaller farms.

During its history, XPCC established a large amount of mining and mining-related industries, most of which have subsequently been handed over to the Xinjiang government. Currently the XPCC is primarily engaged in food- and agriculture-related industries.

The XPCC is also involved in a variety of tertiary industries, including trade, distribution, real estate, tourism, construction, even insurance.

Currently the XPCC has eleven publicly traded subsidiaries. They are:

*Xinjiang Baihuacun Co., Ltd. (新疆百花村股份有限公司) (百花村, 600721.SS) - primarily information technology
*Xinjiang Tianye Co., Ltd. (新疆天业股份有限公司) (新疆天业, 600075.SS) - primarily plastics
*Suntime International Economic-Trading Co., Ltd. (新天国际经贸股份有限公司) (新天国际, 600084.SS) - primarily international trade
*Xinjiang Talimu Agriculture Development Co., Ltd. (新疆塔里木农业综合开发股份有限公司) (新农开发, 600359.SS) - primarily cotton
*Xinjiang Yilite Industry Co., Ltd. (新疆伊力特实业股份有限公司) (伊力特, 600197.SS) - primarily alcohol
*Xinjiang Chalkis Co., Ltd. (新疆中基实业股份有限公司) (新中基, 000972.SZ) - primarily tomatoes and related industries
*Xinjiang Tianhong Papermaking Co., Ltd. (新疆天宏纸业股份有限公司) (新疆天宏, 600419.SS) - paper manufacturing
*Xinjiang Tianfu Thermoelectric Co., Ltd. (新疆天富热电股份有限公司) (天富热电, 600509.SS) - electricity
*Xinjiang Guannong Fruit & Antler Co., Ltd. (新疆冠农果茸股份有限公司) (冠农股份, 600251.SS) - fruits; animal husbandry
*Xinjiang Qingsong Cement Co., Ltd. (新疆青松建材化工股份有限公司) (青松建化, 600425.SS) - cement
*Xinjiang Sayram Modern Agriculture Co., Ltd. (新疆赛里木现代农业股份有限公司) (新赛股份, 600540.SS) - primarily cotton

Culture

The XPCC has its own separate education system covering primary, secondary, and tertiary education. It currently has two universities:
* Shihezi University (石河子大学)
* Tarim University (塔里木大学)

The XPCC has its own official daily newspaper, the "Bingtuan Daily", as well as TV stations at both the XPCC and division levels.

References

*"Originally translated from Chinese Wikipedia article"
*Study of the Infrastructure of Xinjiang [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/SRR/Volume12/desai.html]
*Article on the Bing Tuan role in Beijings settlement policy [http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1148&Itemid=31]

External links

* [http://www.bingtuan.gov.cn/ Official site (Simplified Chinese)]