Xi tours predominantly Muslim province of Ningxia

China's President Xi Jinping visited the mainly Muslim northwestern province of Ningxia this week on an inspection tour of coronavirus epidemic prevention efforts, poverty alleviation projects and demonstrations of ethnic unity. Footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV showed Xi inspecting a family home and giving a speech on ethnic unity during the course of his visit, which lasted from Monday to Wednesday.

Xi visited a poverty relief workshop, a rural ecotourism park, vineyards and a river, state news agency Xinhua reported. Ningxia is a relatively poor, rural province, heavily populated by China's ethnic Hui, a predominantly Muslim minority. Independent reporting indicates that the Hui have been facing tighter controls on their religious and cultural practices in recent years.