BEIJING -- The average life expectancy of residents in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region rose from 30 years in 1949 to 77 years in 2024, showing significant improvement in the region's ability to safeguard public health, according to a white paper released on Friday.

The white paper, titled "CPC Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements," was issued by the Information Office of China's State Council.

The document pointed out that Xinjiang continues to improve its policies on promoting public health and has significantly increased its protection of people's health.

According to the white paper, local patients can now obtain treatment for everyday health issues at the community level, for common illnesses in counties and prefectures, and for serious diseases within the region.