Chongqing - "Before people's basic social rights are guaranteed, they will not have the motivation for development," said Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva, Executive Director of Public International Foundation "Roza Otunbaeva Initiatives," a non-governmental organization in Kyrgyzstan established in January 2012.

On September 12th, the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance opened in Beijing. Before the forum, a delegation of 20 representatives from the five Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, visited Chongqing for a 5-day exchange program.

The delegation visited the Xingjiaqiao Community in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area as their first stop, where the renovated residential area has been transformed from an old community. 

"I learned that in 1993, the roofs of these houses used to leak, and living conditions were extremely challenging, making it difficult for residents to meet their basic needs," said Kendirbaeva.

Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva, Executive Director of Public International Foundation "Roza Otunbaeva Initiatives." (Photo/Chen Yingzhu)

At the Xingjiaqiao Community, a vacant space downstairs has been turned into a community movie screening area, and residents can now easily access amenities such as fitness facilities, walking areas, and spaces for community discussions without leaving the neighborhood. This community was one of the first established in Chongqing through land development and resettlement and has been in existence for 30 years.

 "After 30 years, there are now 100,000 residents in this area, reflecting that the government is doing the right thing in safeguarding people's social rights, including the right to housing, the right to living a decent life, and addressing local issues," said Kendirbaeva.

She marveled that the community is like a big family, and the relationships between people are very close.

Securing jobs an attraction for the population influx 

The automotive industry is one of Chongqing's pillar industries. During their visit to the factory of Chang'an Automobile in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area production workshop, the delegation learned about the automobile production process and the integration between industry and education at Changan Automobile.

"Pillar industries in urban areas are essential for the development of any city," noted Kazbek Maigeldinov, Founder of the Kazakhstan China Studies Association. "We see that the Chang'an factory is such a powerful pillar industry."

Kazbek Maigeldinov, Founder of the Kazakhstan China Studies Association. (Photo/Chen Yingzhu)

While Chongqing's automotive enterprises have rapidly expanded, they have also created more employment opportunities for local residents. The city's residents can secure stable jobs here, which also attracts population influx.

The factory's annual automobile production has been on the rise, with a 2 to 3 times increase from 2020 to 2023. More people are expected to come to the city, and more will find employment at the factory, added Maigeldinov.

"In Kyrgyzstan, I have always advocated for equal rights and equal opportunities for women," said Kendirbaeva. "In the Chang'an factory, I witnessed female engineers engaged in automobile quality inspection, enjoying the same rights to work and receive compensation as their male counterparts."

"I am inspired by this city's commitment to creating fair opportunities for everyone," he added.