The vanishing slums of Urumqi

• Source: Global Times
• [01:05 July 29 2010]
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Singapore model

Pan said the government could make good use of the relocation to ease simmering tensions.

"We could learn from Singapore and make sure each community has residents from different ethnic groups," he said.

He suggested that after the demolition work is complete, the government brings in new industries that would allow the different ethnic groups to work and live together.

Here in Urumqi, Xie says, there are different parallels between the Singapore model and slums like Hejiashan.

"Most people in Singapore are living in government-built public houses. That's why they can have quotas for each ethnic group. But in China we cannot tell the developers who they can sell houses to and who they can't," he said.

Still, he grew up with his Uyghur friends in the south quarter and wants to see everybody get along peacefully: "Only when two children from different ethnic groups live together, play together and study together can they really understand what ethnic unity means."